Johann SebaStian bach Lute Works Volume 1 Paul O’Dette lute

907438 W o r l d W i d e r e l e a s e a u g u s t 2 0 0 7

Worldwide Release August 2007

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2007 harmonia mundi usa / HMU-FLY60075 Design: Scarlett Freund

www.harmoniamundi.comU.S. Publicity Contact: Sarah Folger

sfolger@harmoniamundi.com

It’s said that Johann Sebastian Bach so admired the sound of the lute that to imitate it he had built a gut-strung harpsichord (Lautenwerk) which “deceived the ears of the best lutenists” of his time. This device

permitted Bach – a keyboard virtuoso but not a lute play-er – to compose astonishing lute music, some of which was in fact unplayable as written on the 13-course instruments used in 18th-century Germany, and which in every case demands the very best of a performer.

Paul o’dette (playing a lute by Andrew Rutherford, modeled on a 1727 original by Sebastian Schelle) takes up the challenge of this complex and rewarding music in Lute Works, Volume 1 – the first release in an ongoing series of Bach’s “lute music.” Volume I includes the Suite in A minor, bwv 995 (arrangement of the solo cello Suite in C minor, bwv 1011); the Partita, bwv 1006a (arrangement of the solo violin Partita in E major, bwv 1006, transposed to F major); and the Sonata in G minor (arrangement of the solo violin Sonata, bwv 1001). O’Dette’s masterful performance brings out all the charm, color and excitement in the instrument – it’s the sort of performance that inspired the Boston Globe to proclaim O’Dette “a supreme virtuoso...a genuine wonder.”

Paul O’Dette’s New Series of Bach Lute Works

The Bachelar’s Delight Lute Music of Daniel Bacheler

“O’Dette’s performance is stunning... harmonia mundi’s sonics are audiophile

quality, with remarkably natural presence, clarity and detail… one of

the most consistently rewarding, enjoyable lute recitals in years.

Highest recommendation.”– claSSicStoday.com

(10/10 RevIew)

Virtuoso lutenist Paul O’Dette presents the first volume of

“ lute music” by J.S. bach.

One of the most influential figures in his field, O’Dette has helped define the technical and stylistic standards to which 21st-century performers aspire. With more than 100 recordings to his name, O’Dette was recognized with a Grammy nomination for “The Bachelar’s Delight” and has been nominated for Gramophone magazine’s Record of the year award. Each volume of his acclaimed series of John Dowland’s Complete Lute Works received the prestigious French diapason d’or, and the 5-CD boxed set received the diapason d’or of the year award. His discography in-cludes “Le Secret des Muses” (music of Nicolas Vallet) and ”The Royal Lewters” (music of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I’s favorite lutenists), which garnered a choc du monde de la musique, a diapason d’or and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik.

In addition to his recordings, Paul O’Dette maintains an active international career as a continuo player, performing with today’s most respected conductors and ensembles. He is an avid researcher and has published numerous articles on issues of historical performance practice and co-authored the Dowland entry in the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Together with Stephen Stubbs, O’Dette is writing a book on Baroque vocal practice. He is currently Director of Early Music, Professor of Lute at the Eastman School of Music and is Artistic Director of the Boston Early Music Festival.

“�His�playing�is��technically�brilliant��and�boundlessly�musical”�

– eARLY MUSIC AMeRICA

“Everything about this disc is of high quality. The music is captivating and

varied, the flawless performances justify the high expectations raised by Paul O’Dette’s name… and the

recording itself is superb.” – gRamoPhone

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The Royal Lewters

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Grammy Nominee 2007 for Best Instrumental Performance Classical

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BACH Lute Works • Volume IPaul O’dette lute