Spanish-American violinist Francisco Fullana has taken the Partita No. 3 in E by J.S. Bach and built around it a programme of interlinked yet contrasting works, resulting in an original and intricately constructed album. J.S. Bach's output has had a far-reaching impact, casting the Long Shadow that gives this album it's name. Fullana uses gut strings, a baroque bow and historically informed ornamentation for his performance of Bach's E minor Partita, creating a pared-down, immediate interpretation. YsaÃ¿e was inspired to write his Op. 27 Sonatas after hearing Bach's Sonatas and Partitas. Yet whereas Bach's music demands restraint from the performer, YsaÃ¿e's encourages virtuosity. There is darkness in this Sonata, too, and Fullana performs the work with electrifying energy. Fritz Kreisler's Recitativo & Scherzo was dedicated to YsaÃ¿e, and Fullana feels a special kinship with Kreisler: he plays Kreisler's first Guarneri violin, the 1735 'Mary Portman' Guarneri del GesÃ¹. The recital culminates in YsaÃ¿e's Sonata for Two Violins. YsaÃ¿e wrote the work to perform with Queen Elisabeth of Belgium, who gave her name to a violin competition that was most recently won by violinist Stella Chen, Fullana's duo partner on this album.

Tracklist:

Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"~Obsession
Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"~Malinconia
Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"~Danse des Ombres
Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"~Les Furies
Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006~Preludio
Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006~Loure
Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006~Gavotte en rondeau
Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006~Menuet I ; II
Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006~Gigue
Asturias (Leyenda)
Recuerdos de la Alhambra
Recitativo ; Scherzo, Op.6
Sonata for Two Violins~Poco lento, maestoso - Allegro fermo

UPC: 5060189561650
Label: Orchid Classics
Release Date: 5.28.21
Format: CD

Albeniz / Fullana - Bach's Long Shadow (CD)