Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Arpad Gerecz, Edo de Waart :: Bach: Violin Concertos, BWV 1041 & 1042; Double Concertos, BWV 1060 & 1043

Bach performances of the finest vintage

02/05/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is a must for all Bach admirers. I first encountered these performances when I was about fifteen years old - my parents had the vinyl disc (which, incidentally, did not include the concerto for violin and oboe, added here as a bonus & featuring Heinz Holliger). At that time, baroque music did not appeal to me very much, but somehow the seeds were sown... and after a few years of more or less involuntary exposure, I found myself falling head over heels in love with this music.As always, Grumiaux's playing is a perfect delight for the ear - he seemed to have an uncanny ability to find just the right balance between classical restraint and romantic expressiveness, which suits this music very well indeed. The slow movements (particularly that of the E minor concerto) emerge as some of the most beautiful music ever written, filled with a sense of nobility and wonder; whilst the allegros are spun off with tremendous verve. For the double concerto, Grumiaux is joined by Hermann Krebbers, and the interplay between the two could hardly have been more perfect, especially in the finale which gathers enough forward momentum to leave your mind reeling long after the last chords have faded.The recording comes from the late seventies, and has a kind of warm, wooden sonority to it that brings to mind a mature, full-bodied wine - and, if I'm allowed to extend the analogy, these performances are of a quality vintage that only seems to get better and better with age. Plus that they are at their best when enjoyed in good company!All in all, a desert island disc if ever there was one. Even if you have other versions, you should give Grumiaux a listen, as this is really exceptional."

Simply the best

07/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Grumiaux makes the violin simply sing. He has the best rhythmic and melodic sensibility of anyone I've heard. With Grumiaux, it is the music not the musician that comes through. I have this CD and his Bach sonatas and partitas for solo violin (also great!). This version is the most musical of the Bach violin concertos recordings that I own. I have Perleman on the non-HIP end of the continuum (HIP=historically informed performance) and Pinnock on the HIP end. I also have Menuhin's version and several others. For me, Grumiaux is not as syrupy sweet as so many non-HIP versions are (a la Perleman) nor is he as dry as so many of the authentic performances (i.e., HIP versions). He is just, IMHO, the best. He makes the music sing, just right. I intend, and would recommend to others, to get as many of the classical violin basic repertoire, i.e., Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, Mendelsohn, Tchaikovsky, et al, in versions by Grumiaux as possible. I've not heard another violinist I like better."

Music-making of the First Rank...

W. S. Ferguson | Des Moines, WA USA | 04/17/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album still delights after more than three decades. Arthur Grumiaux's brilliant tone and technical acumen are ideally suited to these concerti. These performances predate the advent of period-instrument interpretation that dominates current recordings of baroque music, but the present offerings cannot be said to be romanticized nor "mushy" versions. The tempi are uniformly well-judged and delivered with verve and momentum, in contrast to the many stodgy, plodding interpretations of these works. The double violin concerto also features great interplay and rapport between Grumiaux and Hermann Krebbers, an artist of the top order in his own right. The Largo movement is particularly fine, revealing Bach in a rarely-equalled lyrical dimension. The concerto for violin and oboe is also delightful, showcasing both soloists (the celebrated Heinz Holliger playing reed) in top form and in full sympathy. The sound throughout is rich and round but with Philips' characteristic clean and clear high-end sonics. I owned this album as an LP years ago, and have kept a slot for it on my CD rack for twenty years. There is a good reason why it still in the catalog. It is simply music of surpassing quality---and an exceptional value to boot..."