Violinist James Ehnes and the National Arts Centre Orchestra's New Album, "J. S. Bach: The Complete Violin Concertos"

Released on Analekta, the album features eight complete concertos by JS Bach

Violinist James Ehnes has collaborated with the National Arts Centre Orchestra to release J.S. Bach: The Complete Violin Concertos on the Analekta label. The release is a double album that presents a comprehensive interpretation of J.S. Bach's Violin Concertos. Volume 1 features his Violin Concerto in E Major, Concerto for Flute, Violin, and Harpsichord in A Minor, Concerto for Oboe and Violin in C Minor, and Violin Concerto in D Minor. Volume 2 includes his Violin Concerto in A Minor, Concerto for Two Violins in D Minor, Violin Concerto in G Minor, and Concerto for Three Violins in D Major.

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"In reconstructing the solo violin parts of BWV 1044, 1052, 1056, and 1060, I have tried to remain faithful to his keyboard arrangements whenever possible, while adding or amending elements that seem to me to be in the spirit of the music," shared Ehnes, who performed four of the concertos with the same orchestra at the Ottawa Chamberfest in Summer 2023. "Performing and recording these works with the magnificent musicians of Canada’s National Arts Centre Orchestra was an immensely rewarding experience."

James Ehnes has maintained an artistic partnership and friendship with the National Arts Centre of Canada for more than three decades, realizing an old dream of his with this new release: to record the complete violin concertos of J.S. Bach. The album illustrates the composer's mastery of violin writing with a range of styles and combinations of instruments.

In collaboration with this album are featured soloists: Joanna G'froerer (Principal Flute), Luc Beauséjour (Harpsichord), Charles Hamann (Principal Oboe), Yosuke Kawasaki (Concertmaster), and Jessica Linnebach (Associate Concertmaster).

"I hope that these recordings bring listeners the same joy, awe, and admiration that this music brought to us," shared Ehnes.

Listen to JS Bach's Violin Concerto in D Minor below