Customer Reviews

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've known these Bach works for a long time and am well acquainted with recordings by Szeryng, Grumiaux, Hahn, Holloway, Mullova, and others. Performance styles have changed a lot, and everyone brings something different to the music. Faust's performances seems to originate from the salon rather than the concert hall, and the intimacy is much appreciated. I also like her willingness to embellish judiciously, which is unusual. As a result, her performances sound more period appropriate than all but Holloway. This is in every way a very worthwhile addition to the Bach discography.

I have several copies of this wonderful music by many outstanding players from Milstein, to Perlman, and Hahn.
Fausts rendition leaves me speechless! Her phrasing has great impulsion, without rushing. Her technique is dazzling, and the dances, in the Partitas, really make you want to.
As a violinist, this is THE music for the instrument, and my 'desert island' musical choice. Faust's recording leaves only one question for me; when will she record the remaining Partita, and Sonatas.

I heard plenty of superb & technically amazing violin performances of Bach but with this one, well, note for note, phrase for phrase you get more beauty for your buck. I mean by this that she (what a wonderful name, Isabelle Faust) played for every subtle nuance that could be bowed out, never too fast on the slower passages as some show-off virtuosos are apt to do. No races here, just beautiful tone & shading yielding even more music than you ever thought was there. And the fast movements are played with such astounding technique as to threaten to stop a heart. Most highly recommended.

Sometimes she sounds like a roomful of perfectly synchronized players all by herself, sometimes the dry tactility of a single bowed open string takes my breath away. I guess the composer deserves some credit as well. This is a great CD; how is it that I have never heard these pieces, or this violinist, before now?

I have had and enjoyed the Grumiaux recordings of the Sonatas and Partitas for many years. I still think they are wonderful. This recording is a different and wonderfully evocative recording - for such a great piece of music it does no harm and gives great pleasure to have two different interpretations. Faust plays exquisitely

I don't understand this performance, much less the music performed. But I have made beginnings at understanding both; I dearly love this recording! Sadly, my spouse becomes impatient when I play it in the house. But I listen to it on my MP3 player - again and again.