Back to Bach

“It is a superb account, bursting at once with piety toward the spirit of this music and sheer irreverence toward its execution” (The New York Times on the recording of the Bach Partitas by Gidon Kremer)

Gidon Kremer is one of the most headstrong and original artists in the music  business and has been hailed once by Herbert von Karajan as the world’s best violinist. His return to Johann Sebastian Bach’s Partitas was a major event. Kremer’s first recording of these works was released almost a quarter of a century ago, and he hadn’t played the partitas in public for over twenty years until this 2002 recording.

Those who have followed Gidon Kremer’s artistic development over the past years will note how much his tone and articulation have changed. The new rendering displays Kremer’s very personal sense of spontaneity and a readiness to take risks. In a very personal way, the film “Back to Bach” shows Gidon Kremer’s most important encounters with Bach. It accompanies the famous violin virtuoso showing rehearsals, recording sessions and discussions with a few trusted confidants, as well as rare archival footage.