Violin Concertos Main Performer or Conductor: Arthur Grumiaux Soloists: Heinz Holliger Herman Krebbers Instrumentation: Oboe Orchestra Violin Individual Works: Violin concerto no.1 in A minor, BWV 1041 Violin concerto no. 2 in E major. BWV 1042 Concerto for 2 violins in D minor, BWV 1043 Concerto in D minor, BWV 1060 Format: Compact Disc Record Label: Philips Catalog Number: 420 700-2 Year Released/Recorded: 1970: BWV 1060 1978: BWV 1041-1043 Total Playing Time: 61:25 Comments: Eugene Herron said: Mssrs. Grumiaux and Krebbers played the Violin Concertos with sensitivity. I had wanted only Oboe music, but they pleasantly surprised me. In some ways they do better than the Stern/Perlman recordings and that is saying something. The Oboe and Violin Concerto closely approximated what I had figured that it would-I have the Harpsichord Version. Once again Heinz treats the matter with sensitity and respect. The allegro of the D minor Oboe and Violin was especially moving. The CD was played in a computer center on a Gateway and became an instant hit. One person here had never heard Bach played in quite this manner before and insisted that we play the allegro repeatedly. I guess that this is another Holliger CD which will go out the window before the backups, in the event that the house catches on fire. Loke Hoe Yeong said: I am very impressed with this recording. Grumiaux's graceful playing is absolutely fitting for such refined music and he charms the listener. This recording, I would say, is a cross between a modern one and a period performance. It has the purity and grace of a period one with the excitement of a modern one. Totally reccommendable. But the double concerto is a bit less impressive. I don't know why, but with the entry of a second soloist, the playing becomes slightly mechanical. The recording by Menuhin and Ferras on EMI with the Bath Festival Orchestra produces a humane and passionate interpretation, just that the quality is not just as good. Get the Grumiaux recording anyway. Corin Stuart said: Although this recording is highly acclaimed with good reason (Grumiaux's tone and strident style is gripping in places) the A minor starts off with him playing slightly out of tune, a trend that continues. I also feel his slow movements could do with a bit less of his stridence - Compare the Andante of the A minor with that of the Oistrach/Vienna Symphony Orchestra (DG) and I think you'll find his more searching style fits the music much better than Grumiuax's. Acknowledgements: Thank you to the following for submitting this recording and for your comments: Robert Diebold Eugene Herron Loke Hoe Yeong Corin Stuart Date First Submitted: 05/10/1998 Purchasing: Suggested Purchasing Sources Note: Inclusion in this database does not guarantee the availability of any recording. Some recordings may be out-of-print or no longer available.