Mullova: Bach – 6 Solo Sonatas & Partitas (2 CD, APE)

Performer: Viktoria Mullova
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Audio CD
SPARS Code: DDD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: APE (image+cue)
Size: 669 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Sonata No.1 in G minor (BWV 1001)
01. Adagio
02. Fuga. Allegro
03. Siciliana
04. Presto

Partita No.1 in B minor (BWV 1002)
05. Allemanda
06. Double
07. Corrente
08. Double-Presto
09. Sarabande
10. Double (2)
11. Tempo di Borea
12. Double (3)

Sonata No.2 in A Minor (BWV 1003)
13. Grave
14. Fuga
15. Andante
16. Allegro

CD 02
Partita No.2 in D minor (BWV 1004)
01. Allemanda
02. Corrente
03. Sarabanda
04. Gigue
05. Chaconne

Sonata No.3 in C major (BWV 1005)
06. Adagio
07. Fugue
08. Largo
09. Allegro assai

Partita No.3 in E major (BWV 1006)
10. Prelude
11. Loure
12. Gavotte & Rondo
13. Menuet I
14. Menuet II
15. Bouree
16. Gigue

instant favorite

Not too stridently modern, not too murkily baroque. The low-pitched gut strings and Baroque bow give her violin a weaker but still appealing tone. They also allow her to grab chords without a harsh attack. Stylistically more traditional than historical, apart from a more extensive use of staccato. However I didn’t hear much resemblance to either of Milstein’s recordings, noted by another reviewer. These are very graceful unaffected performances and this cd quickly became my favorite version of these pieces.