JS Bach: Sonatas for violin and keyboard

Renaud Capuçon (violin) & David Fray (piano)

Erato/2019

About

The violin was one of Bach’s favourite instruments and inspired his most lyrical outpourings. We know he was greatly influenced by the Italian masters whose work he discovered during his Weimar years – by the power of Frescobaldi, the melodic flexibility of Corelli, the sunny grace of Vivaldi – but he developed his own wonderful artistry in writing music of polyphonic density for the violin and “playing” with its sound palette. His deep understanding of the instrument clearly enabled him to exploit its full potential and to write as well as perform music of the utmost virtuosity.

Reviews
“Fray is the star of this album. Duo partner Renaud Capuçon’s sound is velvety, sometimes tender. But, on the whole, it is overly charged with electricity… Fray’s commitment to articulating Bach’s mercurial patterns, surprising harmonic language and long phrases is wondrous. The specificity of each artistic decision, each placing, is delivered with honesty and intelligence.” – Gramophone
Tracklisting

Bach, J S: Sonata for Violin & Keyboard No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018
I. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Vivace

Bach, J S: Sonata for Violin & Keyboard No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016
I. Adagio
II. Allegro
III. Adagio ma non tanto
IV. Allegro

Bach, J S: Sonata for Violin & Keyboard No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017
I. Siciliano. Largo
II. Allegro
III. Adagio
IV. Allegro

Bach, J S: Sonata for Violin & Keyboard No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019
I. Allegro
II. Largo
III. Allegro
IV. Adagio
V. Allegro

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