Bach & P¿¿rt

by Arabella Steinbacher

Overview

Any number of recordings pair Bach's music with those of the minimalists, with Paert being primary among them. The idea is that Baroque-style instrumental figuration is common to both and offers a contrast to Romantic musical dynamics. However, the equation is often too pat, and the two composers require some mediation to make them fit. That is what happens in this release by violinist Arabella Steinbacher and the conductorless Stuttgarter Kammerorchester. Steinbacher's solution is not to enliven Paert but to push Bach in a minimalist direction with straightforward, rather featureless performances where the violin (or pair of violins in the Concerto for two violins and orchestra in D minor, BWV 1043) is blended into the textures. It works for several reasons. One is Steinbacher's Guarneri violin, with a gorgeous sonority that flows through the slow movements and forms a counterpart to the rich resonances of Paert's Spiegel im Spiegel, which closes the program. Beyond that is the dynamic of the entire program, which takes on a hypnotic quality. One might not choose Steinbacher's Bach concertos on their own, but in this context, they have a cumulative effect. This novel recording is especially recommended to Paert fans. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	02/10/2023
Label:	Pentatone Classics
UPC:	8717306260176
Rank:	162110

Tracks

1. Fratres (version for violin, string orchestra and percussion)
2. Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042~I. Allegro
3. Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042~II. Adagio
4. Violin Concerto in E Major, BWV 1042~III. Allegro assai
5. Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041~I. Allegro moderato
6. Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041~II. Andante
7. Violin Concerto in A Minor, BWV 1041~III. Allegro assai
8. Concerto for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043~I. Vivace
9. Concerto for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043~II. Largo ma non tanto
10. Concerto for Two Violins, Strings, and Continuo in D Minor, BWV 1043~III. Allegro
11. Spiegel im Spiegel

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Arabella Steinbacher   Primary Artist,Violin
Peter von Wienhardt   Piano
Christoph Koncz   Violin
Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra   Orchestra

Technical Credits

Johann Sebastian Bach   Composer
Arabella Steinbacher   Liner Notes
Sean Hickey   Managing Director
Carl Schuurbiers   Engineer
Michael Baumgartner   Liner Notes
Renaud Loranger   A&R,Executive Producer
Silvia Pietrosanti   Marketing
Co Merz   Photography
Marjolein Coenrady   Cover Design
Herve Catin   Piano Technician
Francesca Mariani   Design,Product Manager
Miljana Parcetic   A&R
Arvo Paert   Composer
Kasper van Kooten   Product Manager,Design
Erdo Groot   Recording Producer
Jan Roehrmann   Liner Notes