John Butt "J.S. Bach: Sonatas for violin & harpsichord" CD/SACD (2 discs)

John Butt "J.S. Bach: Sonatas for violin & harpsichord" CD/SACD (2 discs)

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Prize-winning Bach specialist John Butt O.B.E. and distinguished violinist Lucy Russell deliver a personal and historically informed performance on J.S. Bach: Sonatas for violin and harpsichord.

Disc of the Week: BBC Radio 3's CD Review 

Performance: 5 stars '...for sheer freshness, insight and life-enhancing joy, this newcomer goes to the top of the class.' BBC Music Magazine  

'Linn's fast-building accumulation of core Baroque repertory continues here with the sonatas for violin and obbligato harpsichord, six wondrous works which never stop giving...These are immensely likable performances, and a mission accomplished, I would suggest, for (Lucy) Russell.' Gramophone

'Harpsichordist John Butt reigns in his most rambunctious side... but revels in the invention of the contrapuntal lines and fully embraces the keyboard's emancipation from accompanying role to sparring partner.' The Guardian 


 The interpretations benefit from Butt (Dunedin Consort) and Russell's combined cumulative experience gained over a lifetime of study. Russell's performance explores the colours and emotions present in the music as well as highlighting Bach's good humour and quirkiness. The duo relish the energetic dialogue and astonishingly diverse moods and characters present in Bach's music: from the supremely expressive violin ‘voice' at the opening of the first sonata to the playful rhythmic tricks in the last movement of Sonata No. 4.

Bach's fiendishly complex fugal writing and typically delicious chromaticism is in evidence throughout these hugely enjoyable works. Butt's informative booklets notes highlight the historical significance of these sonatas in which Bach introduces many of the fundamental features of an essentially new genre.

Tracklisting

  1. Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: I. Adagio
  2. Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: II. Allegro
  3. Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: III. Andante
  4. Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: IV. Allegro
  5. Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: I. Dolce
  6. Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: II. Allegro
  7. Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: III. Andante un poco
  8. Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: IV. Presto
  9. Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: I. Adagio
  10. Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: II. Allegro
  11. Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: III. Adagio ma non tanto
  12. Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: IV. Allegro
  13. Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: I. Largo
  14. Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: II. Allegro
  15. Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: III. Adagio
  16. Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: IV. Allegro
  17. Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: I. Largo
  18. Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: II. Allegro
  19. Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: III. Adagio
  20. Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: IV. Vivace
  21. Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: I. Allegro
  22. Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: II. Largo
  23. Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: III. Allegro
  24. Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: IV. Adagio
  25. Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: V. Allegro