Bach - Violin Concerto in A minor BWV 1041 - Sato | Netherlands Bach Society

Many listeners will recognise this Violin Concerto in A minor, performed by Shunske Sato and the Netherlands Bach Society for All of Bach, immediately, and even identify it with a specific violinist. In contrast to many of Bach’s other works, it never disappeared completely from the repertoire. At the end of the eighteenth century, it was already circulating in Berlin, and it continued to do so.
On 31 March 1860, Bach’s birthday, Julius Eichberg (1824-1893) played the concerto for the first time in the United States. One critic regretted the choice, writing “Bach’s concerto may be learned, but it is very heavy and uninspired”. It was regrettable that such a good violinist as Eichberg selected to play “some antiquated compositions which have little beside antiquity to commend them”.

Netherlands Bach Society
Shunske Sato, violin and direction

0:00 [...]
4:04 Andante
9:23 Allegro assai

[bach]

0:13 [...]
4:04 Andante
9:23 Allegro assai

[MrLuridan]

I've heard these pieces a million times, but when NBS performs them they bring something magical to the music. I almost feel like I'm hearing them for the first time...seriously. Astounding.

[luisumana]

This has to be one of the greatest interpretations of this concerto; the amount of research and adjustments that must have been done backstage during rehersal are so finetuned as to be invisible. The group follow Sato's cues seamlessly and the music dances in the air. This is such a jewel of a performance!

[francescolanzini]

I love all of you Nerherland Bach society!

[princeever]

Very beautiful. Clean but not aggressive, freely but not selfish. Sato's facial expression is really natural. Thank you for uploading.

[hessluana]

I’ve heard this Bach hundreds of times, yet finding this video on YouTube today has catapulted my energy and happiness level this morning as well as a grateful feeling toward the Netherlands Bach Society and to Bach himself! 😍🥳🥰⛄️❄️💕🎈

[violjohn]

I’ve known this music for 50 years this year and I loved it then but I’m hearing it for the first time with tears now. Thank you NBS, thank you Bach!

[samrose]

I was looking for a good recording of this yesterday and didn't see one that kept me interested the whole way through in terms of performance! Then, early the next morning, The Netherlands Bach Society comes and shows who the boss of Bach's music is! Thanks!

[ttwiligh]

I've never imagined myself shedding tears for this piece. I'm not a big fan of Bach's sweet melodies but as the second movement stated so perfectly with the solid bass to welcome soulful voice of the violin, I couldn't hold back tears. The experience was so rich and fresh, that I felt like listening to this piece for the first time. And the third movement only accelerated tear flow. Mr, Sato, you made me cry.

[phwbooth]

Wow! Well done Maestro Sato and fellow musicians. Bach with feeling.

[janel]

I am completely uneducated musically, but this felt like you were writing it for the first time as you played. It sounded so alive, and in the moment. I loved all your body movements too. You were like slender reeds moving in a clear stream. You touched and moved my soul. Thank you for your splendid skills and your total commitment.

[jeffreydronenburgsr.]

Absolutely superb performance. NBS is beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the finest groups of musicians in the world today. Thank you!!!

[beaglemusiclabs]

As so many others already have, I found this performance absolutely captivating, a fantastic balance between soloistic expression and rhythmic vitality, between scholarship and fun. Every one of your recordings is an absolute delight, and makes even the more well-known of Bach's works sound fresh while very much "historically informed." Thank you!

[Chrismacleod]

What a wonderful, exciting performance! Bach himself would have been impressed, I think! Thanks for posting! 💐🌹🍁🐌🌺🎻🎶🎉🌿🌼🦆🌸🍀👍😀

[joecunningham]

incredible.. never heard the slow movement interpreted in this way, it's so much better

[jackvalentine]

NBS: a true treasure of the Netherlands and the world

[maniak]

I love how flexible Sato's tempo is in some solo passages. Incredibly expressive.

[displaychicken]

The best interpreters with the best YouTube channel playing one of the best compositions by the best composer.

[millennial]

The smaller the ensemble is the better we can hear with clarity all what is happening in music. Thanks for this conscious recording.

[anikomattison]

Most beautiful! Excellent performance! I love it!