Metamorphoses – J.S. Bach: Toccata Partita and Suites for Solo Violin

Though naturally closely associated with the organ and harpsichord, Bach had a special relationship with the violin, his father’s instrument, throughout his life. Moreover, we know that he was a highly skilled player, performing regularly at the court of Weimar, and probably also at Köthen and Leipzig. He wrote and transcribed concertos and sonatas for violin, but above all created the unprecedented collection of Sonatas and Partitas for solo instrument.

And it is precisely for this vehicle of pure virtuosity that Marco Serino‘s new project Metamorphoses offers four masterpieces, only one of which – the Partita No. 2, the most ambitious work in the group – has survived in a version for violin.

Both the first two Suites for cello and the Toccata and Fugue BWV 565, however, already boast an important tradition of violin transcriptions. Pervaded by the virtual polyphony so characteristic of the celebrated Sei solo, these extraordinary pieces, which are presented from a different perspective than usual, celebrate this art of transformation pursued by the artists of the Baroque as an ideal of continuous and fruitful metamorphosis.

Marco Serino, Violin