J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 [Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (June 14, 2005)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD, Import
• Label: Pentatone
• ASIN: B00097HE8U
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #74,868 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Surprise!, March 9, 2006

By 

TSENG Bruce (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 (Audio CD)

I never thought this young violinist could play Bach in such a matured way. My version at home was Milstein, Szegeti, Kremer (not very good), and Grumiaux. But Julia Fischer's Bach has won so much praise and I just wonder why. Therefore I bought this pricy double SACD (no ordinary CD available).

I was surprised. It doesn't sound like she is young at all. According to Fisher, she played Bach every day. And she has been studying Bach since she was a little girl. No wonder she has attended to the details of it. The speed she took was relatively slow, especially for the Preludes and Sarabande. Her technique was impeccable, but it all sounded so natural. I once listened to Heifitz and I didn't quite like it. It sounded not like Bach. Fisher surely captured the elegance and warmth of one of Bach's most intelligent and intellectual works.

If you like Bach's Unaccompanied Sonata and Partita for Solo Violin, buy this. You won't regret. The recording quality was superb, too!

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent, September 4, 2005

By 

Xyp (Cincinnati, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 (Audio CD)

I recommend this recording without reservation- it's clean, informed, and well recorded. Fischer is obviously a first class player with an emotional attack- her bowing arm is formidable, and I mean that in a good way: it never took me out of the music, and frequently added to the effect and performance of the more overtly emotional segments of the works.

This recording joins Hilary Hahn's as my favorite of the recent recordings of the Bach solo violin pieces, and shares many of the same performance characteristics. As a side note to anyone who owns the audiophile gear necessary to take advantage of SACD discs, the recent releases by Pentatone are absolutely outstanding sonically and highly highly recommended.

94 of 108 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding, August 17, 2005

By 

Nails Parterre "Nails" (Albuquerque, NM) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001-1006 (Audio CD)

Hands down, this is *the* BEST version of Bach's "Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin" that I have heard. Let me explain.

I love Bach's Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin. I own albums by various artists. They are (along with my grade): Milstein (B), Heifetz (C), Grumiaux (B+), Perlman (B+), Szeryng (A), St John (D), Podger (A-), Hahn (A-).

Now until Fischer, Szeryng was my favorite. He had excellent tone, good technique, and very good dynamics. But Fischer blew me away. She had excellent tone, good technique, and excellent dynamics. If you want more of a baroque interpretation, go with Podger, but if tone, technique, and dynamics are what appeal to you then Fischer is definitely the album to get.

Miscellaneous: This is a Hybrid SACD. I wasn't sure it would play on my "vanilla" CD player, and when I asked the salesmen, they had no idea (typical salesmen, eh?). Anyway, it turns out that it does indeed play, so don't let the SACD label scare you away.

Also, this comes with a DVD--an interview and some playing snippets from the session. The DVD is quite short, about 15 minutes or so.

Finally, this set is a bit pricey, but I think it's worth every penny!