Bach Works for Violin Solo

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Lara St. John (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Lara St. John
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (July 1, 1996)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Well-Tempered Produc
• ASIN: B000003Y32
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (35 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,307 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

42 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars forget Hillary Hahn here comes Lara, August 31, 2000

By	Homiski (Boston, Mass.) - See all my reviews

In a classical market saturated with digitally remastered Szigeti as well as newcomers (Hillary Hahn) recording the golden oldies of classical music, the average listener is confronted with a tsunami of choices. Old masters/new upstarts, same 'old' pieces. On average I buy 5-6 CDs a week (w/ my overall collection around 5000), 4 times out of 5 it is a contemporary music disc of a living composer which has just been recorded for the first time, however that one time I buy a 'dead' composer's CD it HAS to have something fresh and insightful to stand out.

How many times have listeners heard yet ANOTHER performance/recording of the warhorse D minor Partita? I hear it played at least 3 times a year at the Conservatory! That said, Lara St. John's Bach disc is one which WILL sit in the memory. Listeners and critics may argue for or against her interpretations, but that belies the fact that her recording actually SAYS something. How many other recordings are 'nice', 'fine' or 'good'? Do they do anything beyond that? Her interpretations are BOLD, powerful and insightful wielding her instrument to sculpt Bach's counterpoint like clay. Each passage and turn brings out some new shape. No where is this more apparent than in the C Major Sonata where she keeps the droll of the opening ostinato and background while adding more sound to shape the outer voices as they come to the foreground. The control required to create such a line are so refreshing and ultimately exhilarating. If you want a hint in understanding Bach's 'complexity', listen to Lara St. John unravel it one phrase at a time.

15 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is special!, May 27, 2002

By	Bob (Mesa, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

I play this CD for anyone that will listen and the effect is always magical. If you can listen to Lara play Bach and not be swept up by the power of this music and what she does with it, then you're dead and don't know it yet. My favorite had been Milstein's earlier recordings on EMI but now those sound academic by comparison. Her technique is so secure that she can be expressive and most importantly, moving. This is some of the greatest music ever written, performed amazingly, by a such a young person. Perhaps the key is to learn very young (2 yrs old) and peak at 20. I wish she would complete the set and maybe Sony will let her, because this is special music making and it needs to be perserved for our grandchildren to be inspired by.

No other violinist I have ever heard has this gift. This will go to my desert island top five without hesitation. Her Bach Concerto album should be up there too, but that would be unfair to Beethoven, Mozart, and so many other friends. The recording is exceptional even for an HDCD played on normal players. Fine details of bowing can be clearly heard while still preserving the sweet tone of her instrument in the highest registers. Bravo WTP.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Bach full of passion, grace, and fire, June 10, 1999

By A Customer

I have been studying Bach's Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin with a passion for about 5 years now. I own about a dozen recordings by other top Bach performers but I have found that Lara St. John's recording is the most enjoyable of them all. Her Chaconne ( as well as the rest of the recording ) is as close to perfect as I have ever heard and her interpretation is very tasteful. She doesn't over-romanticize her performance like I've heard from other performers and this gives it a more authentic feel as I have heard in period instrument recordings. Lara is a young, beautiful girl and is often criticized for her slightly risque CD covers. This is a shame as many people won't even give her recording a chance. Even though her recording has won the hearts of many critics, amateur and professional alike, many still feel the need to tear down all that she has done. This is unfortunate. All I can say is that anyone who doesn't give this recording a chance with an open mind is doing themselves and Ms. St. John a disservice.