Rachel Podger

J.S. Bach Partitas and Sonatas for Violin Solo
(vol.1)

Sonata no. 1 in G minor BWV 1001;
Partita no.1 in D minor BWV 1002;
Partita no. 2 in B minor BWV 1004

(period performance)

One of the most creative talents to emerge in the field of period performance over the last decade, Rachel Podger has established herself as a leading interpreter of the music of the Baroque and Classical periods. She was educated in Germany and in England at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she studied with David Takeno and Michaela Comberti. After beginnings with The Palladian Ensemble and Florilegium – both groups she helped create - she was leader of The English Concert from 1997 to 2002 and toured throughout the world, often as concerto soloist. In 2004 Rachel began a guest directorship with The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, opening with concerts of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos in the USA. Rachel is in demand as a guest director and has enjoyed collaborations with Arte dei Suonatori (Poland), Musica Angelica (USA), Santa Fe Pro Musica (USA), The Academy of Ancient Music and The European Union Baroque Orchestra. As a recitalist Rachel enjoys a busy career; she gives solo concerts across the globe, notably in North America, Western Europe, Korea and Japan.
Teaching forms a significant part of Rachel’s musical life; as an accompaniment to her role as Professor of Baroque Violin at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London, she regularly incorporates masterclasses into her busy concert schedule. She is a Fellow of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Rachel Podger is an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. It is limited to 200-odd people and is one of the most ‘exclusive’ and ancient musical fellowships in the world. Mendelssohn, Liszt and Stravinsky treasured theirs and so do Rattle, Boulez, Dohynanyi, Masur, Colin Davis and Mackerras.

As a recitalist Rachel enjoys a busy career; she has given solo concerts in North America, Europe, Japan and Korea. Future engagements include concerts in France, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, England, Scotland and Japan, several of them with Gary Cooper on keyboard. Rachel's first solo recordings (for Channel Classics), of J.S.Bach's Sonatas and Partitas, were released in 1999 to great critical acclaim. These discs were followed, in 2001, by Bach's Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord with Trevor Pinnock. Both recordings were awarded first place by the BBC's 'Building a Library' programme. Rachel's recording of Telemann's Twelve Fantasies for Solo Violin won the prestigious 'Diapason d'Or' and was listed in the BBC Music Magazine's 'top 20' classical CDs of 2002. Rachel's 2003 recording of Vivaldi's 12 violin concertos 'La Stravaganza' also received the 'Diapason d'Or' and was awarded the 2003 Gramophone award for Best Baroque Instrumental recording as well as being runner-up for the overall Record of the Year. With harpsichordist and fortepianist Gary Cooper she will record the complete Mozart Sonatas for Violin and Keyboard. The first CD of this series, issued in 2005, was 'Editor's Choice' of Gramophone and received another 'Diapason d'Or'. Rachel is Professor of Baroque Violin at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. She also teaches at the International Sommer Akademie in Innsbruck, Austria.

Gramophone: Editor's Choice BBC Music Magazine: Gold Choice (…)
eine blitzsaubere intonation (…) Klassiek Heute (…)
een artistieke en technische topprestatie van een veelbelovende violiste. Jonas Magazine (...)
she is making music under her hands (...) (...) There's not a moment in these intricately plotted works that doesn't shine with dedication and insight (...) (...) she plays for the empyrean. Memphis TN
(...) deeply considered performances, highly accomplished in technical terms, and full of musical insights. (...) (...) Her variety of touch and phrasing, lending richness to the implied harmonies of Bach's lines, brings the disc to a satisfying conclusion. BBC Music Magazine
(...) an opportunity to hear her on her own (...) (...) her subtle phrasing, as in the B minor Corrente, with the fleetest of doubles, the cross-rhythms of her G minor Presto and, most strikingly, the sheer poetic feeling with which she imbues the initial Adagio of the G minor Sonata. She touches in cord lightly. (...) (...) Her D minor Giga is stunning. Altogether a most impressive and rewarding disc. Gramophone
(...) Haar prestaties zijn indrukwekkend.(..) (...) alle nuances van haar spel zijn hoorbaar (...) (...) De cd wordt bekroond met een grandioos neergezette Ciaconna. Ik kijk met hooggespannen verwachtingen uit naar de tweede, het completerende deel Luister Rachel Podgers Interpretation (Barock-Violine) besticht durch geistige Klarheit und technische Souveränität. Ihre Demut und Begeisterung vor dem Bachschen Opus übertragt sich direkt auf den Zuhörer. Hamburg, Gay-Web.
(…) Vederlicht en speels, zodra het kan, introvert, bezonnen, ongehaast ook, maar zo vitaal dat er van saaiheid geen sprake is. Zij munt uit in een vlekkeloze intoinatie en perfecte beheersing van de dubbelgrepen. (…) Klassieke Zaken (…)
levendig spel van iemand die Bach goed in haar vingers heeft. Wat bij veel violisten in gezwoeg ontaard – vooral de talrijke dubbelgreep-passage- rolt er bij haar vrijwel moeiteloos it. (…) Haagse Courant (…)
Rachel Podger ërklart: "versucht man, ein Gleichgewicht zwischen drei dingen zu finden: der notierte Musik, dem instrument uns sich selbst". Das hat sie gefunden in dieser formvollendeten, Feuer sprühenden, technisch ausgefeilten, tief lotenden Einspielung. Hessicher/Niedersächsische Allgemeide (…)
Rachel Podger, playing baroque violin, brings the warmest, most embracing approach to this essential Bach (…) (…) It’s a bit like a sensuous, warm bath (…)
The Weekly Australian (…) her playing is superb (…) Audiophile Audition