Metamorphoses. J. S. Bach: Toccata, Partita and Suites for Solo Violin Marco Serino

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004:
• 1 Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: I. Allemanda 04:24
• 2 Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: II. Corrente 02:32
• 3 Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: III. Sarabanda 03:50
• 4 Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: IV. Giga 03:46
• 5 Bach: Partita No. 2 in D Minor, BWV 1004: V. Ciaccona 13:15
• Toccata con fuga in A Minor, BWV 565:
• 6 Bach: Toccata con fuga in A Minor, BWV 565: I. Toccata 01:46
• 7 Bach: Toccata con fuga in A Minor, BWV 565: II. Fuga 04:49
• Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008:
• 8 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: I. Prelude 02:51
• 9 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: II. Allemande 03:35
• 10 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: III. Courante 01:52
• 11 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: IV. Sarabande 04:18
• 12 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: V. Menuet I & II 02:34
• 13 Bach: Suite No. 2 in A Minor, BWV 1008: VI. Gigue 02:26
• Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007:
• 14 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: I. Prelude 02:00
• 15 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: II. Allemande 04:07
• 16 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: III. Courante 02:21
• 17 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: IV. Sarabande 02:23
• 18 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: V. Menuet I & II 02:37
• 19 Bach: Suite No. 1 in D Major, BWV 1007: VI. Gigue 01:31
• Total Runtime 01:06:57

Info for Metamorphoses. J. S. Bach: Toccata, Partita and Suites for Solo Violin

Though naturally closely associated with the organ and harpsichord, Bach had a special relationship with the violin, his father’s instrument, throughout his life. Moreover, we know that he was a highly skilled player, performing regularly at the court of Weimar, and probably also at Köthen and Leipzig. He wrote and transcribed concertos and sonatas for violin, but above all created the unprecedented collection of Sonatas and Partitas for solo instrument. And it is precisely for this vehicle of pure virtuosity that Marco Serino's new project offers four masterpieces, only one of which - the Partita No. 2, the most ambitious work in the group - has survived in a version for violin. Both the first two Suites for cello and the Toccata and Fugue BWV 565, however, already boast an important tradition of violin transcriptions. Pervaded by the virtual polyphony so characteristic of the celebrated Sei solo, these extraordinary pieces, which are presented from a different perspective than usual, celebrate this art of transformation pursued by the artists of the Baroque as an ideal of continuous and fruitful metamorphosis.

Marco Serino, Nicolo Amati violin, Cremona 1661

Marco Serino
completed his musical studies at the Santa Cecilia Conservatory in Rome, obtaining diplomas in violin and chamber music with full marks and honors. Afterwards he studied at the Hochschule für Musik in Vienna, the ProQuartet in Paris, the Royal College in London and the Geneva Conservatory, where he was awarded the ‘Premier Prix de virtuosité’. In 1990, he founded the Bernini Quartet and joined the renowned ensemble I Musici.

As a soloist and chamber musician, he collaborated with internationally acclaimed artists such as Giuliano Carmignola, Christophe Coin, Wladimir Mendelssohn, Mario Brunello, Giovanni Sollima, Francesco Cera, Bruno Canino, Gérard Caussé, and Hector Passarella.

As a soloist or first violin he has been invited by prestigious orchestras, including Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome, Zurich Chamber Orchestra, Haydn Orchestra in Bolzano, Orchestra di Padova e del Veneto, Orchestra Regionale Toscana, La Stravaganza in Bucharest, Orchestra Sinfonica Abruzzese, Orchestra del Teatro Bellini in Catania, Roma Sinfonietta, ICO Orchestra in Lecce, and the Orchestra Regionale di Roma e del Lazio.

He also performs in some of the most prestigious concert halls and theatres worldwide, including Philharmonie Berlin, Kölner Philharmonie, Herkulessaal, and Prinzregententheatre in Munich. Other notable venues include Musikverein in Vienna, Queen Elizabeth Hall in London, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall in Moscow, Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Suntory Hall in Tokyo, Arts Performance Center in Seoul, National Theater in Beijing, Shanghai Theatre, Mozarteum in Salzburg, Auditorium Parco della Musica ‘Ennio Morricone’ in Rome, Società del Quartetto in Milan, and the Piccolo Arsenale Theatre for the Venice Biennale.

Eminent composers have dedicated works to Marco Serino, and he has collaborated with Ennio Morricone, Luis Bacalov, Matteo D’Amico, Alessandro Sbordoni, Gideon Lewensohn, Steve Reich, Ada Gentile and Pascal Dusapin.

He has recorded for prestigious labels, including Decca, Foné, Tactus, and Amadeus, and his works have been reviewed and awarded by the most important specialized magazines such as Strad, Repertoire, Classica, and Amadeus. Recently, he has collaborated with the Arcana label, publishing two albums devoted to Ennio Morricone’s ‘Suites from the Cinema.’

Marco Serino is a tenured violin teacher at the Trento Conservatory, has held masterclasses at various universities in the United States, at the Akademie für Alte Musik in Brunico, at the Arts Academy in Rome, at the Accademia Filarmonica Romana, and at many Italian conservatories.

He is also engaged in musicological research and has reconstructed unpublished violin concertos by Johann Sebastian Bach, published by Ut Orpheus and recorded by Giuliano Carmignola with Concerto Köln for Arkiv-Deutsche Grammophon. Furthermore, his violin transcription of Bach’s ‘6 Suites for Solo Cello without Bass’ was recorded by Giuliano Carmignola for Arcana.

Booklet for Metamorphoses. J. S. Bach: Toccata, Partita and Suites for Solo Violin