Rachel Podger (solo baroque violin)

Performer

Rachel Podger is one of the greatest baroque-music specialists working in the UK today.

She has been artist-in-residence at London’s Wigmore Hall and was named Gramophone magazine’s Artist of the Year in 2018.  She is the founder and artistic director of the Brecon Baroque festival and ensemble.  She is also a dedicated educator, holds an honorary position at the Royal Academy of Music and has presented BBC Radio 3’s Inside Music.

Rachel’s recordings have been widely acclaimed.  Her 2019 set of Bach Cello Suites transposed for the violin was described by BBC Music Magazine as ‘arguably Podger’s finest achievement’.  The Brecon Baroque recording of Bach’s Concerto for Two Violins in D minor was named Radio 3’s library choice for the work in February 2022.

Her programme this evening is a fascinating survey of baroque music for solo violin, placing great composers of the period alongside less-well-known contemporaries and traditional Celtic and English music.

‘Rachel Podger was, as ever, a live wire, energising the performance, playing as if the violin were an extension of her arm and, no doubt, her soul.’  – The Arts Desk

‘There is probably no more inspirational musician working today’  – Gramophone

Programme

Tutta Sola – An evening of baroque music for solo violin

Programme includes –

Bach  Toccata and Fugue, BWV 565, arr. for solo violin in A minor

Tartini  Violin Sonata no. 17 from Piccole Sonate

Traditional  Celtic and English tunes, including from Playford’s Dancing Master

Watch

Rachel plays Bach’s Sonata No. 1 in G minor for solo violin, BWV1001 and Partita No. 1 in B minor for solo violin, BWV1002 at London’s Wigmore Hall:

A performance at the Timisoara Early Music Festival  in 2019:

and listen to Rachel’s transcription for violin of Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, BWV1007: