Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord (Ilya Gringolts; Francesco Corti)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

CD1

• Violin Sonata No. 2 in A Major, BWV 1015
• Violin Sonata No. 4 in C Minor, BWV 1017
• Violin Sonata No. 6 in G Major, BWV 1019

CD2

• Andrew McIntosh - Tertia deficiens
• Violin Sonata No. 1 in B Minor, BWV 1014
• Violin Sonata No. 3 in E Major, BWV 1016
• Violin Sonata No. 5 in F Minor, BWV 1018

Ilya Gringolts, violin

Francesco Corti, harpsichord

Date: 2025

Label: Arcana

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Harpsichordist Francesco Corti and violinist Ilya Gringolts join forces on a new Arcana release that unites two distinctive yet complementary artists. Corti, known for his acclaimed series of Baroque recordings, and Gringolts, celebrated for his versatility and historically informed approach, explore the earliest concertante sonatas for keyboard and melodic instrument—a cornerstone of chamber music. Their long-standing partnership brings vitality and depth to this program, which also features Tertia deficiens, a new work by composer and Baroque violinist Andrew McIntosh. Commissioned for this project, McIntosh’s piece forms a poetic link between Baroque tradition and contemporary expression.

Born in 1982 in St. Petersburg, violinist Ilya Gringolts studied with Tatiani Liberova, Zhanneta Metallidi, and later with Itzhak Perlman at the Juilliard School. Winner of the 1998 Premio Paganini—the youngest in its history—he was also named a BBC New Generation Artist. Currently a professor at the Zurich University of the Arts and faculty member of the Accademia Chigiana, he serves as artistic advisor to Switzerland’s Mizmorim Festival. Gringolts performs with leading orchestras worldwide and leads ensembles from the violin. His acclaimed recordings, including Locatelli’s Il labirinto armonico and Stravinsky’s complete violin works, have won multiple Diapason d’Or and Gramophone awards.

Francesco Corti, born in 1984 in Arezzo, Italy, is a renowned harpsichordist and conductor. After studying organ in Perugia and harpsichord in Geneva and Amsterdam, he won prizes at the Leipzig Bach Competition (2006) and Bruges Harpsichord Competition (2007). Active worldwide as soloist and conductor, he has performed at leading venues and festivals, collaborating with ensembles such as Les Musiciens du Louvre, Zefiro, and Bach Collegium Japan. Principal guest conductor of il Pomo d’Oro since 2018 and music director of Drottningholm Royal Court Theater since 2023, his acclaimed recordings for Arcana and Pentatone have earned multiple awards, including the 2022 Diapason d’Or de l’Année.