Gottfried Schneider from the Academy of Performing Arts in Munich played music by Johann Sebastian Bach on a 1728 Stradivari during the inaugural concert of the Chorus Urbanus series, held recently at St James church in Victoria.
The programme featured Bach’s Solo Violin Sonatas Nos. 1 and 3 and Partita No. 1. The concert came to a close with one of the greatest pieces of music ever conceived for solo strings – a 15-minute chaconne in which a single idea resonates through 31 variations.
After the concert, Schneider was introduced to a number of young Gozitan violinists by Chorus Urbanus director John Galea.
The entire set of Bach’s solo sonatas and partitas by Schneider will be released on CD in Germany next month.
The next event will be the annual Christmas concert at St George’s Basilica, Victoria, on December 16.