Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Sonatas for Violin Solo with Piano Accompaniment by Schumann (1996)

This CD presents the rarely recorded version of Johann Sebastian Bach's complete solo violin works with piano accompaniment by Robert Schumann. Schumann's piano accompaniment adds a conversational element to the music that I would have sworn I would never have associated with these works. It is a musical conversation across centuries between two great German masters. You should not be worried about Schumann taking over control from Bach - Schumann's added piano part is only accompaniment as the title indicates. Besides this recording emphasizes the violin in the sound picture and places the piano in the background. The playing is good but it doesn't reach John Holloways's (on ECM) metaphysical heights... well, maybe these musicians don't aim for those heights at all... it is more of a human interpretation.