Rachel Podger!

Rachel Podger!

I continue to be amazed at the quality of British musicians!! One of these days I will have to do research on British musical teaching and determine what the factors are which make these teaching methods so successful…
However, for today, I will focus on one of the products of this British training, and that is violinist Rachel Podger.

Specifically, I bring your attention to Podger’s fairly new CD of:
J S Bach: Violin Concertos

Bach, J S:

Violin Concerto No. 1 in A minor, BWV1041
Violin Concerto No. 2 in E major, BWV1042
Violin Concerto in G minor, BWV1056
Violin Concerto in A major, BWV1055

Performed by Rachel Podger (violin/director), and the Brecon Baroque Ensemble

The Brecon Baroque Ensemble was founded in 2007 by violinist Rachel Podger as the resident ensemble at her annual Brecon Baroque Festival. The players consists of some of the leading instrumentalists in the period-instrument world, such as cellist Alison McGillivray, flautist Katie Bircher, oboist Alexandra Bellamy and violist Jane Rogers, as well as some of Ms. Podger’s “star” former students who now occupy leading positions in many of Europe’s finest ensembles.

The amazing thing about this new recording is that the orchestra is made up of single strings (each part is played by just one player rather than a whole section of players). While you do lose a little in contrast between the soloist and the orchestra, these concertos aren’t really written in the more typically ‘classical’ style that requires that contrast. Instead you benefit from much greater clarity in the orchestral lines and a more equal interplay between the soloist and the other players. Particularly in the outer movements the solo violin part is often written like just one of the orchestral parts and so Rachel Podger’s more chamber-like approach sounds appropriate and vividly exciting.

Here are some comments by the soloist, Rachel Podger:

”The opportunity to spend three intensive days recording four Bach concertos is an uplifting experience. Each piece encompasses a unique expressive world where discovering the real essence of every movement becomes a kind of obsession! The concertos in A minor and E major are old friends. I’ve grown up with them and I played them a lot when young. The other two, in G minor and A major, were very familiar (as harpsichord concertos or in various transcriptions) – relations I knew reasonably well but not such close friends. It has been a delight to explore these pieces and renew acquaintance, first hand.’

Tracks on this CD are as follows:
1. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: [Allegro]
2. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Andante
3. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 1 in A minor, BWV 1041: Allegro assai
4. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042: Allegro
5. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042: Adagio
6. Concerto for violin, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1042: Allegro assai
7. Concerto for oboe (or violin), strings & continuo in G minor (reconstruction), BWV 1056R: [Allegro]
8. Concerto for oboe (or violin), strings & continuo in G minor (reconstruction), BWV 1056R: Largo
9. Concerto for oboe (or violin), strings & continuo in G minor (reconstruction), BWV 1056R: [Presto]
10. Concerto for oboe d’amore, strings & continuo in A major (reconstruction), BWV 1055R: [Allegro]
11. Concerto for oboe d’amore, strings & continuo in A major (reconstruction), BWV 1055R: Larghetto
12. Concerto for oboe d’amore, strings & continuo in A major (reconstruction), BWV 1055R: Allegro ma non tanto

This is one amazing recording! The way these musicians capture the magic of Bach is completely captivating!

Here is Ms. Podger, playing, and speaking about this recording and about Bach:

If you’d like to purchase this recording, just click on the image below, and you’ll be able to complete your purchase at Amazon:

Tags: Rachel Podger, Bach, concerti