New CD: Frank Peter Zimmermann – J.S. Bach Sonatas And Partitas, Vol. 2

Frank Peter Zimmermann waited until the fourth decade of his career to take on Bach’s six sonatas and partitas for solo violin. The first disc (BIS-2577) dedicated to this absolute pinnacle in the repertoire for the instrument was released in February 2022 to great critical acclaim. Now comes the much-awaited conclusion to this collection. Zimmermann compares these works to ‘a mighty tree, which protects me and crushes me at the same time’, the music giving him hope and strength at the same time as it confronts him with his limits as a violinist. On this new release, he now offers us the Sonata No. 1 in G minor, as well as the B minor Partita No. 1 and the Sonata No. 3 in C major.

“Frank Peter Zimmermann livre la suite de son intégrale des Sonates et partitas de Bach dans un second album aussi splendide que le premier (cf. no. 718). Un son clair, plein, chaleureux, racé, savoureux, porte un discours d’épopée qui exalte le chant, l’émotion poignante, autant que la rigueur stylistique: tout ici respire l’évidence et la ferveur. Par son artisanat à la fois humble et furieux, son engagement constant, voire sa rudesse de diction et d’articulation où la nuance n’est jamais anémiée, le violoniste exprime non l’orgueilleux narcissisme du virtuose mais son contraire: la communication, c’est-à-dire le sacré.” – Diapason no. 728 (Diapason d’Or)

Listen here.