Customer Reviews

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin

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4 star:		(1)
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I agree with the previous reviewer. Not only have I never heard any performance of the Bach solo violin sonatas and partitas that compares with Milstein's, but I find it impossible to listen to this performance without the experience that Milstein is playing them directly as they exist(ed) in the mind of God or of Bach, depending on what you believe in. The performance is transparent: you don't even notice that a human being is technically performing the pieces, there is just direct communion between you and the music. An awesome achievement on Milstein's part.

This complete cycle of sonatas and partitas is, in my opinion, the best version of all. Mr. Milstein plays so wonderfully and with much energy without losing focus or depth. Many people like his later 70's recording(s) but I prefer this above all. A fantastic interpretation!

This is the first of the 2 recordings Milstein made of the Bach Sonatas and Partitas. Personally, I think this earlier recording is better; it was more spontaneous, more creative thinking, and originality. That is not to say that Milstein purposely "distorted" the vision that is Bach, but merely that there are some subtle details that are quite characteristically Milstein's own, which enhance the works. For instance, the Fugue in the G Minor Sonata (probably the most popular), Milstein chooses to play a bit off the string, to give it bounce and lightness. Collectively, this is a really good recording. As could be expected from Milstein, he performs with elegance and grace, with a beautifully rounded tone and technical mastery. Heifetz also did some very creative things with his versions of the Bach Sonatas. But I would choose the Milstein over Heifetz, because Heifetz, with all of his virtuosity, makes the works his, and so somewhat betrays the Bach style. Milstein never does that; yes, his interpretation is very creative, but he adheres to the Baroque style. This is a must for any serious student of the violin.

Nathan Milstein (1903-1992) was always a very humble player. Certainly his name was not immersed in the jet set of Szigetti, Heifetz or Oistrakh. His playing was extremely meditative and introspective, though invested of a visible stylized approach. These Bach 's works are the supreme fire proof for any serious violinist.

His vibrato is far to be sumptuous but instead possesses an sense of tune and color, an expansive sound and a innate freshness. It is fair to acknowledge the tempos are faster than the rest of the recordings you have listened, but despite of this fact his phrasing is so clean, so well articulated, with an impressive aristocratic tone, admirable clarity of conception and sparkling imagination filled with remarkable expressiveness and humanity.

His reading of the well known partite No. 2 is simply vibrant. Milstein possessed temperament and personality; brightness and eloquence. The Allemande and Giga specially, are majestic. The Chaccone is impregnated of that mysterious aura with ravishing cosmic breath and impetuous intensity.

In my personal list I have this set in a second choice after the legendary achievement of Henryk Szeryng, in the third place Sandor Vegh, the forth for Szigetti and the Fifth for Heifetz.

Go for these treasured performances.

But please, remember: the primacy belongs to Szerying!

Mr. Milstein's sweetness and clarity and sadness and exuberance playing some of Mr. Bach's greatest music combine to make one want to jump for the joy of music.