Bach, J S: Sonatas & Partitas for solo violin, BWV1001-1006

“Alina Ibragimova's… playing… forges a potent synthesis, uniting the steely, eyes-wide-open focus of Christian Tetzlaff (her one-time teacher) and the supple stylistic insights of a Rachel Podger. In the Partitas she's supremely alert to the idiomatic nuances of each dance, while in the Sonatas the fugues are always contrapuntally clear and purposeful in their forward momentum.” BBC Music Magazine, November 2009 *****

“Ibragimova's playing is uncommonly neat, with precise fingerwork and relaxed management of the bow; the virtuoso finale of the Third Sonata sparkles effortlessly while remaining for the most part at a piano dynamic. She plays unequal quavers in the Third Partita's Minuet as naturally as if she'd grown up in the 18th century. And finally, all her stylishness and technical refinement is at the service of an ingrained understanding of the music; she makes us feel where the points of harmonic tension and emphasis are, and she's able to do it without distorting the surface...” Gramophone Magazine, November 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.” BBC Music Magazine, 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.” Gramophone Magazine, May 2009

“Mullova's sense of an ongoing musical line is immaculate and totally unselfconscious, the authority of her performances is never in doubt.” The Guardian, 15th May 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.” Daily Telegraph, 7th 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.” The Observer, 5th April 2009

“The most important single book in violin literature” (John Holloway)

‘Technically Perlman is beyond reproach. There is brilliance in the faster movements, delicacy in the galanteries, and grave expressiveness in the slower music. As the coupling of the names of Bach and Perlman is not one that readily springs to mind, this fine recording has come as a real surprise.’ (Gramophone)

“Classic accounts by Milstein and Grumiaux have been usurped by this extraordinarily gifted newcomer” BBC Music Magazine, Proms issue 2005