About this Artist

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Editorial Reviews

Leave it to Andrew Manze -- the whiz kid of the Baroque violin -- to dazzle us with understatement. After making his name with pyrotechnic treatments of neglected masters like Pandolfi and Biber, as well as masterful takes on standard repertory (check out his sizzling recording of Bach's violin concertos), Manze unveils this two-disc set of Bach's violin sonatas to reveal another side of his musical personality: sublime restraint. These sonatas present fearsome technical challenges, but there's nothing even remotely showy about the way Manze plays them. His approach is consistently thoughtful and elegant. With similarly stylish support from Richard Egarr (harpsichord) and Jaap ter Linden (viola da gamba), the result is unusually gentle and exceptionally satisfying. The opening Adagio of the E Major Sonata is as delicate and heartwarming as a ray of sunlight on a winter's morning. In the final Presto of the A Major Sonata, where other interpreters emphasize the music's playful bounce, these musicians spin the phrases into expansive arches that communicate a deep, inner joy. Surely old Bach himself would smile at such raptly sensitive music making. But those looking to Manze for fireworks won't be disappointed. Following a hunch about the violinistic figuration of Toccata and Fugue in D minor for organ, Manze has adapted this warhorse for his own instrument. The result is a stunning -- and convincing -- tour de force that alone is worth the price of the recording. Armchair scholars should note that Manze and his colleagues offer alternative movements for the Sonata in G Major, allowing one to hear the work in three different versions. In addition, the set offers two other sonatas attributed to Bach: BWV 1023 in E Minor and BWV 1024 in C Minor. Producer Robina Young works her usual sonic magic, capturing the performances in sound that's richly atmospheric and crystal clear. Andrew Farach-Colton, Barnes & Noble

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