Francisco Fullana - Bach's Long Shadow (CD)

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. Ysaÿe 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, Ysaÿe'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 Ysaÿe, and Fullana feels a special kinship with Kreisler: he plays Kreisler's first Guarneri violin, the 1735 'Mary Portman' Guarneri del Gesù. The recital culminates in Ysaÿe's Sonata for Two Violins. Ysaÿe 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.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"Obsession
2. Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"Malinconia
3. Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"Danse des Ombres
4. Sonata for Solo Violin, Op.27, No.2 "Jacques Thibaud"Les Furies
5. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Preludio
6. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Loure
7. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Gavotte en rondeau
8. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Menuet I ; II
9. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Bourrée
10. Partita No.3 in E major for Solo Violin, BWV 1006Gigue
11. Asturias (Leyenda)
12. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
13. Recitativo ; Scherzo, Op.6
14. Sonata for Two ViolinsPoco lento, maestoso - Allegro fermo