Description
ECM New Series: Leonidas Kavakos & Péter Nagy — Stravinsky / Bach (Violin & Piano) — Audio CD
Brand new! Factory packaged! As pictured! Buy with confidence!
Product Details:
- Product Type: Audio CD
- Brand / Label: ECM New Series
- Artists: Leonidas Kavakos (violin), Péter Nagy (piano)
- Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Johann Sebastian Bach
- Release Year: 2005
- Catalog Number: ECM New Series 1855 / 472 7672
- UPC: 028947276722
- Producer: Manfred Eicher
- Genre: Classical
- Style: 20th-Century Neoclassical, Baroque
Product Features
- Format: CD
- Discs: 1
- Total runtime: approx. 75:00
- Recording: Radio Studio DRS, Zürich, October 2002
- Engineer: Stephan Schellmann
- Made in: Germany
- Condition: Brand New, Factory Sealed
Overview
A program built on a single idea: Stravinsky spent his whole life arguing with Bach, and this disc lets you hear both sides of the conversation. Two Stravinsky pieces for violin and piano sit between two solo Bach works, and the seams between them keep dissolving.
The Duo concertant from 1931–32 opens — neoclassical Stravinsky at his most rigorous, written for violinist Samuel Dushkin. Then Bach's solo B-minor Partita, all dance forms, before the lighter Suite italienne drawn from the ballet Pulcinella. The G-minor Sonata closes things, Bach's "musical science" at its most concentrated.
Leonidas Kavakos plays with a control so complete it almost hides itself. No showy risk-taking, no audible struggle — just the difficulties quietly dispatched. The New York Times called it a conversation across the ages worth catching; the Independent placed Kavakos among the most celebrated Greek musicians since Callas.
Péter Nagy partners him in the Stravinsky, pointillist and precise, lighting the sparks under the Tarantella. This is the sealed 2005 ECM New Series edition, produced by Manfred Eicher and recorded in Zürich with ECM's signature space and warmth.
Interesting Facts
- Stravinsky reportedly worked on Bach transcriptions even near the end of his life — the affinity heard here ran his whole career.
- The Duo concertant was one of two works Stravinsky wrote for violinist Samuel Dushkin, alongside the 1931 Violin Concerto.
- Suite italienne is drawn from Stravinsky's ballet Pulcinella, itself built on music attributed to the Baroque composer Pergolesi.
- Kavakos and Nagy had previously recorded together for ECM in a Ravel and Enescu program that drew international acclaim.
- The recording was made at Radio Studio DRS in Zürich in October 2002, engineered by Stephan Schellmann.
- Critics have noted Stravinsky's 1930s "neoclassicism" might more accurately be called neo-Baroque — the through-line this disc makes audible.
Track Listing
Igor Stravinsky — Duo concertant (1932), for violin and piano Johann Sebastian Bach — Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002, for solo violin Igor Stravinsky — Suite italienne (1933), for violin and piano Johann Sebastian Bach — Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001, for solo violin
Publishers
Released by ECM Records GmbH (Munich) in 2005 under the ECM New Series imprint, catalog 1855 / 472 7672. Produced by Manfred Eicher; engineered by Stephan Schellmann. Printed in Germany.
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