Around 60 years ago, I
began to play the Bach violin concertos on my violin (with piano
accompaniment). The A major, the E major and the D minor double
concerto (where, for some reason, I always played the violin 1 part).
Up until a few decades ago, I could still play the violin parts of
the three concertos by heart. Recordings were always a problem; I
don't like dry, scrawny imitation “baroque” playing in violin
concertos, nor giant symphony orchestra renditions. Best stand-by up
until now has been Nathan Milstein in the 1960s, with Erica Morini in
the double concerto.
Wanting a good modern
recording, I chanced upon the two sisters Deborah and Sarah Nemtanu,
with the Paris Chamber Orchestra. Deborah plays the A minor, Sarah
the E major, and both play the D minor. A couple of Bach Two-part
Inventions are included, with Deborah playing the viola and Sarah the
violin.
Pleasant versions of
these over-familiar works. Neither violinist is “baroque”, thank
heavens, although many tempi are slightly faster than I would have liked.
Since Johann Sebastian Bach gave no timings -- he probably did not
even own a stopwatch -- I am not sure from whence comes the idea that
Bach's music must jog along at a rapid pace. Certainly his music
needs to flow; but it also needs to breathe.
The CD also contains a
concerto grosso for two violins, harpsichord and string orchestra by
Alfred Schnittke. Not altogether a good idea, I feel. Schnittke's
work is pleasant enough, but is totally out-classed by Bach; a bit
like putting me in a boxing ring with Muhammed Ali in his prime.
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