Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer: Akiko Suwanai 諏訪内晶子, Volkhard Steude, François Leleux
Orchestra: Chamber Orchestra of Europe
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Philips
Catalogue: 4757478
Release: 2006
Size: 341 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: cover
Concerto for 2 Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D minor, BWV 1043
01. 1. Vivace
02. 2. Largo ma non tanto
03. 3. Allegro
Violin Concerto No. 2 in E, BWV 1042
04. 1. Allegro
05. 2. Adagio
06. 3. Allegro assai
Concerto for Violin, Oboe, and Strings in D minor, BWV 1060
07. 1. Allegro
08. 2. Adagio
09. 3. Allegro
Violin concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041
10. 1. (Allegro moderato)
11. 2. Andante
12. 3. Allegro assai
Sonata for Violin Solo No. 3 in C, BWV 1005
13. 3. Largo
Akiko Suwanai (born in 1972) is one of the brightest violinists to have emerged in the late 20th century, winning the Tchaikovsky International Competition, the youngest person to do so, in 1990. She has gone on to an impressive concert and recording career that encompasses both traditional repertoire and world premieres. Her 2006 album J.S. Bach: Violin Concertos was an instant success. Her performance is impressive: incisive, nuanced, and idiomatic. Her tone has an appealing warmth, but she remains true to the character of the music and doesn’t lapse into Romantic tone quality or interpretations. She brings a high level of energy and momentum to the fast movements and her slow movements are sensuous with supple, elastic phrasing. Suwanai’s program is exceptionally attractive and includes the most popular of Bach’s concertos featuring the violin. Included are the Concerto for two violins in D minor, BWV 1043, and the Concerto for violin and oboe, BWV 1060, and the solo violin concertos, BWV 1041 and BWV 1042. Violinist Volkhard Steude and oboist François Leleux join her in the double concertos. She’s accompanied with verve and sensitivity by the Chamber Orchestra of Europe, which plays without a conductor but is capably guided by concertmaster Alexander Janiczek. The sound on the beautifully produced album is clean and natural.