Arts & Events
Violinist Rachel Podger Performs at Berkeley Early Music Festival & Exhibition
Rachel Podger, hailed as “Queen of the Baroque Violin,” performed solo works for violin by Johann Sebastian Bach at First Congregational Church on Wednesday, June 8 as part of the biannual Berkeley Early Music Festival & Exhibition, which returns after a several year absence due to the Covid pandemic. Featured works at this concert were Bach’s Sonata and Partita Numbers Two for solo violin, as well as a transposition for violin of Bach’s Suite No. 3 for solo cello.
Bach’s Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003, opens with a movement marked Grave. It is indeed gravely serious, featuring heavy embellishments, handled adroitly by violinist Rachel Podger. An open final cadence, on a long-held final note, leads directly into the second movement, marked Fuga. This lengthy movement features an uncompromising fugue. The third movement, an Andante, offers a broodingly lyrical melody heard over a pulsating bass line. The fourth and final movement, an Allegro, is mercurial and dynamic, featuring multiple “echo effects.”
Next on the program was Bach’s Suite No. 3 in C Major for solo cello, BWV 1009, transposed into G Major for violin. An opening Prelude sets the serious mood of this suite, followed by a jaunty Allemande and a fast Courante. Then comes a soulful Sarabande followed by a frisky Bourrée.
A masterful Gigue closes this suite with angular passages, including very dramatic, almost strident moments of great intensity. This closing Gigue was, to my mind, the highlight of the entire concert, masterfully performed by Rachel Podger.
After intermission Rachel Podger returned to perform Bach’s Partita No. 2 in D minor for solo violin, BWV 1004. It opens with a majestic Allemanda, followed by a jaunty Courante and a moody, pensive Sarabanda. Then comes a lively Giga, brilliantly performed by Rachel Podger; and this work closes with a famous Ciaccona, which has been called a virtual summation of the solo violin’s expressive capabilities. In this masterful movement, Rachel Podger’s playing rose to the highest level of solo violin brilliance.
