Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, BWV 1001–1006

Johann Sebastian Bach

violin

Henryk Szeryng

1967 Stereo, good vintage sound.

Gil's top choice. Szeryng brings a keen musical mind, finding a balance between virtuosity and really feeling the music with delicacy. The Chaconne is wonderfully dramatic. An ideal version.

Лейбл: Deutsche Grammophon

Nathan Milstein

1973

An unmissable version. Milstein particularly brought that dramatic virtuosity and this real intensity. Another artist with a keen musical mind and elegant phrasing.

Лейбл: Deutsche Grammophon

Nathan Milstein

mid-50s Mono recording. A little more dry with more immediacy.

An earlier EMI version from Milstein. The sound is a bit more dry and immediate. Gil tends to favor this one a little bit for the energy.

Лейбл: EMI

Arthur Grumiaux

Early 60s

A justly famous recording that complements Milstein. Grumiaux offers a more unaffected, natural, and pristine interpretation with a beautiful tone.

Лейбл: Philips

Itzhak Perlman

mid-80s Digital sound.

Perlman gives more of the lush, romantic view. Very sweet-toned with obvious feeling and classic Perlman intensity.

Rachel Podger

late 90s Baroque violin. Period performance.

The modern classic. Played on a Baroque violin, it's more straight-toned and less lush, but gorgeous, with a hypnotic effect and pristine purity.

Yehudi Menuhin

mid-30s Historic recording (recorded as a teenager).

A gramophone classic. Recorded when he was a teenager, it has a freshness and wonderful, instinctive artistry. A beautiful, beautiful tone.

Georges Enescu

early 40s Historic recording.

From Menuhin's teacher. A brilliant artistic mind and passionate musician. The Chaconne is dripping with drama and pathos. Technique isn't perfect, but the musical insights are priceless.