For those not in the know, Giuliano Carmignola is an Italian violinist. Born in Treviso, he studied with his father, then with Luigi Ferro at the Venice Conservatory and afterwards with Nathan Milstein and Franco Gulli at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy and Henryk Szeryng at the Geneva Conservatory.

In 1973, he was awarded a prize in the International Paganini Competition in Genoa.

Interestingly enough, he plays the Stradivarius Baillot of 1732 granted him by Cassa di Risparmio in Bologna because of his stature and artistic engagement with the Orchestra Mozart.

Here on his brand new album, a 2CD event entitled Bach: Sonatas & Partitas BWV 1001-1006 (released via Deutsche Grammophon), these works for solo violin are pinnacles of the repertoire, to be quite honest.

Beautiful, mysterious works that test a violinist’s technical and musical skills to their limits it’s music that’s perfectly suited to Carmignola; one of today’s great Baroque performers.

1-4. Sonata No. 1 in G minor (BMV 1001)
5-8. Sonata No. 2 in A minor (BMV 1003)
9-12. Sonata No. 3 in C minor (BMV 1005)
1-8. Sonata No. 1 in B minor (BMV 1002)
9-13. Sonata No. 2 in D minor (BMV 1004)
14-19. Sonata No. 3 in E minor (BMV 1006)

As we can all attest to, his playing, whether it be here or in general, has a beguiling rhythmic freedom that highlights the music’s spontaneity and an expressiveness that penetrates its soul.

The Presto from the Sonata No. 1, one of Bach’s most exhilarating movements, is a thrilling ride, while the tender Sarabande from Partita No. 1 sings and sighs.

Opening with 'Adagio,' it is a wondrous, stirring four minutes that lead you into your afternoon/evening's worth of delightful headphone pleasure (if you are anything like me, of course).

Other stand outs, in my humble opinion, are 'Corrente' (a quite stunning, flirty piece to behold), the quietly stern 'Tempo di Borea,' the dulcet 'Sarabande,' and both 'Loure' and the frenetic beauty of 'Bourrée.'

And 'Ciaconna' from the second partita, is a rather astonishing 14-minute set of 32 variations, in which emerges glorious, noble, and majestic works created through the mind, body and soul of Carmingnola. Overall, this is quite the Baroque performance, my friends.

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