It took the efforts of famous musicians like Mendelssohn, Schumann, Ferdinand David, and Joseph Joachim to popularize Bach's solo violin works, which were initially unknown and unappreciated.
Historical Context
Bach's solo violin works were rediscovered by manuscript collector Georg Pölschau in 1814 among old papers in St. Petersburg, after being lost for decades.
Performer Biography
Florin Paul, the violinist, received international acclaim after studying in Bucharest, winning the Grand Prix Jacques Thibaud in Paris in 1977 and the first Niccolo Paganini prize in Genoa in 1979.
Historical Context
An early copy of Bach's solo violin works, made by Anna Magdalena Bach, was once believed to be the original manuscript due to its deceptive similarity.
Critical Reception
For almost 75 years after their rediscovery, Bach's solo violin works could not find a publisher, and once published, few performers were willing to play them.
Recording & Production
This recording was made in 1995 at the Franziskaner Konzerthaus in Villingen-Schwenningen, using two Neumann M 49 microphones and a dCS 900B A/D-converter.
Performer Biography
Florin Paul, the violinist on this album, was born in Romania in 1958 and showed exceptional talent from a young age, winning first prize in the National Music Competition at age eleven.
