Eugène Ysaÿe, a Belgian violinist and composer, became an overnight sensation at 27 after a single recital in Paris, leading composers like Debussy and Saint-Saëns to write for him.
Album & Artwork
This album is the second in a trilogy that pairs Johann Sebastian Bach's solo violin works with those of Eugène Ysaÿe.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Violinist Antje Weithaas believes that Eugène Ysaÿe, a composer often pigeonholed as a virtuoso, should be taken seriously as a composer.
Composer Biography
In 1720, Johann Sebastian Bach was a well-paid court composer at Köthen, where he was encouraged to experiment with new music.
Composition History
Eugène Ysaÿe dedicated each of his six solo sonatas, Op. 27, to a different fellow-violinist, characterizing them in the music and hinting at the ideal interpreter for each.
Performer Biography
Antje Weithaas, the violinist on this recording, began playing at four and has won prestigious competitions including the Kreisler Competition (1987), Bach Competition (1988), and Joseph Joachim Violin Competition (1991).
Instruments
Antje Weithaas performs on a violin built by Peter Greiner in 2001.
