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“To hear Mullova play Bach is, simply, one of the greatest things you can experience”, wrote the London Guardian.
ONYX now proudly announces Viktoria Mullova’s first COMPLETE recording of the Bach Sonatas & Partitas.
For Philips in the early 90s Viktoria recorded the 3 Partitas on a modern violin but has never recorded the Sonatas, and in the meantime her interpretations have been transformed by her studies in Baroque practice and her subsequent performances with masters such as Gardiner, Dantone, Harnoncourt, Antonini and il Giardino Armonico.
Mullova’s fifth release on ONYX: previous releases including Bach Sonatas with Dantone (ONYX4020) and Vivaldi Concertos with Giardino Armonico (ONYX4001)
2CDs for the price of 1.5. Deluxe digipak format with booklet containing article by Viktoria herself explaining her long and still-evolving journey working on Bach
Sonata No.1 In G Minor BWV1001: 1. Adagio
Sonata No.1 In G Minor BWV1001: 2. Fuga. Allegro
Sonata No.1 In G Minor BWV1001: 3. Siciliana
Sonata No.1 In G Minor BWV1001: 4. Presto
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 1. Allemanda
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 2. Double
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 3. Corrente
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 4. Double
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 5. Sarabande
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 6. Double
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 7. Tempo Di Borea
Partita No.1 In B Minor BWV1002: 8. Double
Sonata No.2 In A Minor BWV1003: 1. Grave
Sonata No.2 In A Minor BWV1003: 2. Fuga
Sonata No.2 In A Minor BWV1003: 3. Andante
Sonata No.2 In A Minor BWV1003: 4. Allegro
Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: I. Allemanda
Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: II. Corrente
Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: III. Sarabanda
Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: IV. Giga
Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Ciaconna
Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: I. Adagio
Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: II. Fuga
Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: III. Largo
Sonata No. 3 in C Major, BWV 1005: IV. Allegro assai
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: I. Preludio
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: II. Loure
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: III. Gavotte En Rondeau
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: IV. Menuet I
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: V. Menuet II
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: VI. Bourrée
Partita No. 3 in E Major, Bwv 1006: VII. Gigue
May 2009
****
“In this recording Viktoria Mullova presents virtually flawless playing but, of greater importance, she sustains an impeccably punctuated, modulated and compelling dialogue through Bach's counterpoint with seemingly effortless intimacy and charm.”
May 2009
“These are outstanding performances… Mullova brings together several ideal qualities for a Bach player. Firstly, there's a secure sense of style… Then there's her superior, virtuoso's technique, producing beautifully precise tuning and, in the fugal movements finely controlled, varied and euphonious playing of the most densely polyphonic passages. To this we can add her deep musical understanding; by means of subtle emphasis and natural dynamic contrasts, she draws our attention to the beauty of Bach's harmonic progressions and to the balance and grandeur of his designs.”
15th May 2009
****
“Mullova's sense of an ongoing musical line is immaculate and totally unselfconscious, the authority of her performances is never in doubt.”
7th April 2009
*****
“This set of Bach's six solo Sonatas and Partitas BWV1001-6 represents the first fruits of Mullova's full adoption of period tools of the trade alongside her assimilation of an apposite style of playing. And what remarkable discs they are. This is wonderfully fluent, absorbingly imaginative playing.”
5th April 2009
“The virtuosity is stunning; the complex fugues in the C major and A minor sonatas are perfectly lucid, and the great D minor chaconne rises to an electrifying mid-point climax.”
2010
“Viktoria Mullova plays a gut-strung Guadagnini (in modern set-up) at low pitch, using a Baroque-style bow, so it's with the period instrument Bach recordings that Mullova can be most usefully compared. These are outstanding performances, however, whatever category they belong to. Mullova brings together several ideal qualities for a Bach player. Firstly, there's a secure sense of style, apparent equally in the rhythm and character of each of the Partitas' dances, and in the ornamented introductory movements of the first two Sonatas. Then there's her superior, virtuoso's technique, producing beautifully precise tuning and, in the fugal movements, finely controlled, varied and euphonious playing of the most densely polyphonic passages. To this we can add her deep musical understanding; by means of subtle emphasis and natural dynamic contrasts, she draws our attention to the beauty of Bach's harmonic progressions and to the balance and grandeur of his designs. Even on the few occasions where Mullova isn't entirely convincing the poise and sheer quality of the playing remains extremely persuasive. There have been many fine recent recordings of these works, but this one is definitely not to be missed.”
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Sonata No.1 In G Minor BWV1001: 1. Adagio
