Customer Reviews

J.S. Bach: The Sonatas and Partitas for Unaccompanied Violin, BWV 1001-1006

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

 

 

Lots of people perform these works, but few do them well. Luca does it beautifully, with a pure tone and lots of warmth. He lets the music shine through, not over-interpreting it as many are tempted to do. Having played solo Bach and listened to many others do it, I have found few performances I really like. This is one of them - I could listen to Luca play Bach all day long.

These pieces for solo violin are often described as cerebral and difficult. That may be so for some, but in Luca's hands they become anything but academic exercises. First, he plays sarabandes and allemandes as dances, which they in fact are, and in the process reveals their immense internal drive and passion. Second, his phrasing has a wonderful sense of line, as if he's thinking the music out loud, nearly improvising. And third, his bowing is rosinous and places a kind of insistence on dissonant, strong beats, which increases the sense that these pieces are as nearly wide-ranging as emotional adventures as they are as intellectual ones. After a few hearings, you might blast the up-tempo pieces in your car with the top down. Highly recommended.

Sergiu Luca plays Bach with amazing beauty and grace. In this particular rendition of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, Sergiu Luca plays upon a Baroque violin. Not only is it beautiful, but it maintains the original quality and dynamics of the Baroque era. I highly recommend this CD. Bach should only be played by a master, and Sergiu Luca definitely fills the role.

Sergiu Luca plays Bach with amazing beauty and grace. In this particular rendition of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, Sergiu Luca plays upon a Baroque violin. Not only is it beautiful, but it maintains the original quality and dynamics of the Baroque era. I highly recommend this CD. Bach should only be played by a master, and Sergiu Luca definitely fills the role.

Perhaps there is no more pure form of JS Bach than his Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin. One person, one instrument, pure music.

I love Luca's interpretation. My feeling is that Luca is playing these for himself, for Bach and for the MUSIC! There is no fancy virtuosity or showmanship here, just the sheer joy of playing the essence of the greatest composer to have ever lived.

To me Luca's interpretation sounds like he's playing them on his day off, alone in his room for the personal pleasure of the wonderful music and it's art.

Sergiu Luca plays Bach with amazing beauty and grace. In this particular rendition of Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, Sergiu Luca plays upon a Baroque violin. Not only is it beautiful, but it maintains the original quality and dynamics of the Baroque era. I highly recommend this CD. Bach should only be played by a master, and Sergiu Luca definitely fills the role.

I had asked my violinist friend to recommend a recording of the Sonatas and Partitas, and she mentioned this one. On listening, I found that the performer used short articulations, "notes inegales (where the dotted notes "swing")," and was often out of tune. I don't know if some of those techniques have something to do with historic instruments and style, but I just don't get it. My most critical comment was that he was really out of tune on some crucial doublestops that my ear just could not comprehend.
I'm just a guitarist, so please (if you're a violinist) consult your teachers and colleagues about what recording to learn from and enjoy. I highly recommend Hilary Hahn's recording over this one - she makes every note sing and plays so perfectly. Again, this is just my opinion.