Isabelle Faust and Kristian Bezuidenhout: Bach Sonatas

Sheer 18th-century elegance: Bach’s intricate and absorbing sonatas for violin and harpsichord performed by a thrilling duo.

Bach’s set of six sonatas was written in the 1720s at an intriguing time for chamber music. Prior to this date, keyboard accompaniments had often been an improvisatory affair, built up by the player from a given bass line. In these sonatas, however, Bach writes out the keyboard part in full, establishing much more of a conversation between the two instruments, and demonstrating his mastery of interweaving musical lines. Displays of dazzling counterpoint alternate with movements of grave beauty.

Isabelle Faust and Kristian Bezuidenhout’s partnership is perfect for this repertoire. A recent review pointed out the creative contrast between their playing styles, describing “Bezuidenhout’s exuberance weaving itself into the luminous intensity of Faust’s sound”.

Isabelle Faust violin
Kristian Bezuidenhout harpsichord

J.S. Bach:: No.1 in B minor, BWV 1014 (13’)
J.S. Bach:: No.2 in A major, BWV 1015 (14’)
J.S. Bach:: No.3 in E major, BWV 1016 (16’)
J.S. Bach:: No.4 in C minor, BWV 1017 (17’)
J.S. Bach:: No.5 in F minor, BWV 1018 (18’)
J.S. Bach:: No.6 in G major, BWV 1019 (18’)

To hear one of J.S Bach’s beautifully turned sonatas for violin and harpsichord is a rare treat. To hear all six of them, played by that most exquisitely poised of violinists Isabelle Faust and the equally refined Australian harpsichordist Kristian Bezuidenhout will be sheer heaven. It’s just the kind of refined pleasure one expects at the Aldeburgh Festival...
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