They won't attract the bugs to clean up an entire town, as in the German legend documented by the Brothers Grimm. But to people. Especially to that young audience that still doesn't know what they're missing by ignoring Bach. There are six violinists from the country, between 30 and 44 years old, to whom the Schubertíada has proposed to interpret the complete sonatas and partitas for solo violin by the brilliant composer, one each.
The concert will take place this Saturday in Vilabertran (7:30 p.m.). And in alliance with the Fundació Galatea, it will be dedicated to health professionals, in recognition of their work and courage during the pandemic. The soloists, some belonging to the Quartet Casals, the Cosmos or the Dalia, allege reasons why the young public should not miss it.
Vera Martinez Mehner
"Bach covers the essence of all subjects of study"
“If it comes, young people will have more choices about their future. Because Bach's are spectacular works that can be associated with architecture, physics, poetry... Bach covers the essence of all the subjects that can be studied in life. Everywhere you look, you find some form that Bach has used or described. In many of the Sonatas and Partitas you have the dances, the architecture of a cathedral, a fugue... and so many things that can be connected to any science or art in the world. Any young person interested in any of them or in the investigation will feel seduced”.
Elena Satué
“Bach is to music what Shakespeare is to literature”
“Young people who want to get into classical music should know that Bach is to music what Shakespeare is to literature or Velázquez is to painting. It is a music that is difficult to pigeonhole into one era, due to its timelessness and mystery (we do not know why he wrote this cycle of six sonatas and partitas or left an instruction sheet to interpret them), and that makes everyone make a personal interpretation and own”.
Maria Florea
“Three centuries later it continues to question and move us”
“Music, like art in general, with different approaches and languages, each one adapted to its time and its environment, has had for centuries a fundamental common message, to talk about essential issues for humanity: life, death, love, existence... this is one of the great things of music and one of the reasons why a composer like Bach remains absolutely current, and almost three centuries later continues to challenge and move us”.
Bernard Prat
“The same composer for six very different sonorities”
“One of the main attractions is being able to see six different violinists in the same concert. Because it is already quite unusual to hear the complete Sonatas and Partitas by Bach, but it is even more unusual to hear a composer in the same concert for six very different ways of thinking and sonorities. Basically, it is one of the most important things that we performers do: follow the instructions of a composer, but putting our point of view, ideas and personality. And here it will become clear. This is a masterpiece that probably no one has surpassed in 300 years. Bach squeezes the possibilities of the violin that are only four strings and four fingers of the left hand. That can be very attractive. And the framework, in addition to giving us good acoustics, is a fantastic environment.”
Helen King
“To lower the revolutions of the fast world of the 21st century”
“Here you will find a space to share solo violin music by Bach to slow down the revolutions of the fast world of the 21st century. With six different people, six ways of seeing this music in an afternoon of sharing visions of this great composer. It will surely be a beautiful experience for both those of us on stage and the audience.”
Abel Thomas
“A 4-string instrument sounds like a small organ”
“It can be a very thick repertoire for the general public in one go. With the same violinist it could be monotonous but with six it can be enjoyable. And we're all between 30 and 44 years old, so why couldn't it be interesting for a young audience? We must not forget that the violin is a monophonic instrument and Bach did a feat by disguising it as polyphonic. It is incredibly ingenious how he manages to get a wooden instrument with four strings and a bow to give the illusion of a small organ.”
