For the Record, Op. 152: Augustin Hadelich's Bach Sonatas and Partitas
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Violinist Augustin Hadelich. Image courtesy Warner Classics.
Bach - Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin
Augustin Hadelich, violin
For Augustin Hadelich, lockdown was the perfect time to delve into Bach’s Sonatas and Partitas for solo violin and to undertake the enormous project of recording the whole set. “Recording Bach’s complete Six Sonatas and Partitas has long been a dream of mine,” Augustin said. "They are formidable tests of technical ability and stamina, but also of musical imagination and expressive range – they never cease to provide challenges, hope, and joy.” For his interpretation, sensitive to historical practice, Hadelich chose to use a baroque bow. “It was a revelation," he says. "It felt liberating. Passages of three- and four-note chords felt more fluid. The dance movements danced more and the slow movements sang more." BELOW: Augustin performs the "Preludio" from Johann Sebastian Bach's Partita no. 3 in E Major:
If you have a new recording you would like us to consider for inclusion in our Thursday "For the Record" feature, please e-mail Editor Laurie Niles. Be sure to include the name of your album, a link to it and a short description of what it includes.
You might also like:
- For the Record, Op. 151: Juilliard String Quartet first recording with Areta Zhulla; Elizabeth Chang
- For the Record, Op. 150: Rachel Podger's Mozart; Viktoria Mullova's Beethoven
- For the Record, Op. 149: Laure Chan's 'Tribute to Bach'
Replies
I purchased it and have enjoyed the recording. I especially love the very fine playing of the slow movements.
This may sound weird, but I find Hadelich's level of violin playing really scary. Hilary Hahn is also almost supernaturally perfect, but she is just...perfect, which is sublime. But Hadelich adds one more degree above that, and I simply find it scary, so that I cannot truly enjoy it anymore. I know, weird reaction, but just wanted to share it :-)
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April 9, 2021 at 07:37 AM · As always, Augustin Hadelich's playing is sublime.
But whoever made the video needs to take a serious look at it. The fake lens flare leaving blue stripes across the scene was seriously distracting.