
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: '...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
- Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: I. Adagio
- Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: II. Allegro
- Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: III. Andante
- Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014: IV. Allegro
- Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: I. Dolce
- Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: II. Allegro
- Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: III. Andante un poco
- Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015: IV. Presto
- Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: I. Adagio
- Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: II. Allegro
- Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: III. Adagio ma non tanto
- Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016: IV. Allegro
- Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: I. Largo
- Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: II. Allegro
- Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: III. Adagio
- Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017: IV. Allegro
- Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: I. Largo
- Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: II. Allegro
- Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: III. Adagio
- Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018: IV. Vivace
- Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: I. Allegro
- Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: II. Largo
- Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: III. Allegro
- Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: IV. Adagio
- Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019: V. Allegro