Just Biber Rachel Podger & Brecon Baroque

• Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber (1644 - 1704): Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142:
• 1 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142: I. [Untitled] 02:53
• 2 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142: II. Variatio - Allegro 03:56
• 3 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142: III. Presto 01:42
• 4 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142: IV. Aria - Variations 03:19
• Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138:
• 5 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138: I. [Untitled] 01:28
• 6 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138: II. Adagio 01:56
• 7 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138: III. [Untitled] 00:45
• 8 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138: IV. Variatio 05:28
• 9 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 1 in A Major, C. 138: V. Finale 01:58
• Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139:
• 10 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: I. [Untitled] 01:15
• 11 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: II. Aria 00:53
• 12 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: III. Variatio 02:40
• 13 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: IV. Adagio 01:03
• 14 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: V. [Untitled] 01:34
• 15 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 2 in D Minor, C. 139: VI. Finale 01:12
• Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146:
• 16 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: I. Allegro 02:08
• 17 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: II. Die Nachtigal 01:53
• 18 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: III. Der Cu Cu 00:46
• 19 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: IV. Der Fresch 01:22
• 20 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: V. Die Henne und der Hann 00:40
• 21 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: VI. Die Vachtel 01:07
• 22 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: VII. Die Katz 00:53
• 23 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: VIII. Musquetier Mars 01:32
• 24 Biber: Violin Sonata violino solo representativa in A Major, C. 146: IX. Allamande 02:18
• Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143:
• 25 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: I. [Untitled] 01:04
• 26 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: II. Passacaglia 04:35
• 27 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: III. [Untitled] - Adagio 01:58
• 28 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: IV. Gavotta 01:37
• 29 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143: V. Adagio - Allegro - Adagio 03:20
• Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140:
• 30 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140: I. Adagio - Presto 01:37
• 31 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140: II. Aria - Variatio 02:40
• 32 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140: III. Presto - Adagio 00:58
• 33 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140: IV. Allegro 02:15
• 34 Biber: Violin Sonata No. 3 in F Major, C. 140: V. Variatio 05:01
• Total Runtime 01:09:46

Info for Just Biber

Following up her critically acclaimed recording of Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber's Rosary Sonatas, violinist and musical director Rachel Podger leads Brecon Baroque on Just Biber, an album of Sonatas from Biber's 1681 collection Sonatæ Violino Solo and his theatrical Sonata Representivo. These works are extremely virtuosic with extensive multiple stopping and dazzling passages of stylus fantasticus. In Biber’s time, harmony was something cosmic, vibrating in a God-given resonance between human, instrumental and celestial bodies. Dedicated to Archbishop Maximilian Gandolf, the sonatas were not only designed to delight, but also potentially to balm and heal; Biber described the sonatas as a kind of prayer for the Archbishop’s longevity and good health.

"It’s fresh, athletic, teasing and a bit gravelly here and there to sustain my attention between smoothie chords. Podger is totally on her toes, a challenging leader with a mind of her own." (Slipped Disc 4 Star Review)

"Podger’s wonderful album, pairing her dynamic fiddling with equally colourful playing from members of Brecon Baroque" (The Times 5 Star Review)

"Podger rises brilliantly to these sonatas’ extreme challenges." (The Guardian 4 Star Review)

Rachel Podger, baroque violin, director
Ensemble Brecon Baroque

Rachel Podger
“Rachel Podger, the unsurpassed British glory of the baroque violin,”(The Times) has established herself as a leading interpreter of the Baroque and Classical. She was the first woman to be awarded the prestigious Royal Academy of Music/Kohn Foundation Bach Prize in October 2015, was Gramophone Artist of the Year 2018, and the Ambassador for REMA’s Early Music Day 2020. A creative programmer, Rachel is the founder and Artistic Director of Brecon Baroque Festival and her ensemble Brecon Baroque; is Principal Guest Director for Tafelmusik; Patron for The Continuo Foundation and an Ambassador for the Learned Society of Wales. Rachel was awarded BBC Music Magazine Recording of the Year and Instrumental Award 2023 for her solo album Tutta Sola.

Rachel continues to broaden her relationships with orchestras, ensembles and venues worldwide. Recent highlights are her inaugural performance with Tafelmusik as Principal Guest Director and a tour of Asia, her debut directing Scottish Chamber Orchestra, and a long-awaited return to the Netherlands Bach Society. Upcoming performances include her debut with Bavarian Radio Symphony, a return to Scottish Chamber Orchestra, a US/Canadian tour with Tafelmusik, and tours of Duologue with Lucie Horsch, ‘Just Biber’ (Biber 1681 Sonatas) and The Muses Restor’d with her ensemble Brecon Baroque.

As a soloist and chamber musician, recent collaborations have included the Austrian premiere of A Guardian Angelwith VOCES8at Vienna Konserthaus, a tour of Angels and Demons with I Fagiolini, a Vivaldi tour with Arte dei Suonatori, BachGoldberg Variations Reimaginedand Vivaldi Four Seasonswith Brecon Baroque.

Recent album releases on Channel Classics include Just Biber, The Muses Restor’d with Brecon Baroque which was awarded a Gramophone Editor’s Choice, BBC Music Magazine double 5* review & Chamber Choice and a Diapason d’Or, and the world premiere recording of BachGoldberg Variations Reimaginedin a new chamber arrangement by Chad Kelly with Brecon Baroque. Upcoming recording plans include a disc of Duologue with Lucie Horsch.

A dedicated educator and inspirational coach, Rachel has begun her own training programme BOGA (Bow Yoga), she holds the Micaela Comberti Chair for Baroque Violin at the Royal Academy of Music and the Jane Hodge Foundation International Chair in Baroque Violin at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rachel also has a regular relationship with The Juilliard School in New York. Rachel Podger is managed worldwide by Percius.

Brecon Baroque
Magnificent Brecon Baroque are masters of an impressive palette” (Diapason D’Or). The dynamic ensemble Brecon Baroque consists of an international line-up of world-class virtuosi in the period-instrument world. Together they specialise in one-to-a-part repertoire including Vivaldi, Biber, and Bach which “releases a freedom and buoyancy in the playing” (Financial Times) and spotlights each member alongside group director Rachel Podger.

Brecon Baroque’s busy last season included a residency at Kings Place as part of Rachel’s Artist in Focus year; continued tours of Vivaldi The Four Seasons to support its Vivaldi concerti box-set release on Channel Classics and the piece’s 300th anniversary; a Christmas tour with I Fagiolini of Angels and Demons which has taken the group across the UK; new Bach and Biber programmes including From Darkness to Light; and album releases of Bach Goldberg Variations Reimagined, arranged especially for Rachel and Brecon Baroque by Chad Kelly and The Muses Restor’d, a journey of captivating violin-led chamber music from Jacobean to Early Georgian England. Brecon Baroque is managed worldwide by Percius.

Booklet for Just Biber