Sei Solo

Discover soon the surprising reinterpretation of Johann Sebastian Bach's Partitas, recorded on the viola d'amore a chiavi (nyckelharpa) and carefully arranged by Didier Francois. A unique musical journey, now available on Prova Records.
From May 23, 2024, listeners can enjoy a special project where Didier Francois records the complete set of Bach's sonatas and partitas on the viola d'amore a chiavi, an instrument rarely used for these compositions. Didier's careful reinterpretation brings the depth and emotion of these masterpieces to life in a unique way. The sonatas will be released next year, after the partitas were released earlier this year. Didier Francois's interpretation is profound and infused with historical insight. He bases his approach on Bach's own life, noting that Maria Barbara, Bach's wife, died in the same year as the composition of these partitas (1720). This suggests a profound emotional significance that Bach infused into this music, possibly as a therapeutic form of processing his grief. A fascinating aspect of this interpretation is the choice of titles for the scores. Instead of writing "Sei Soli," Bach may have consciously chosen "Sei Solo," meaning "You are Alone." This could suggest that Bach wants us, the performers, to experience how he felt: alone and with his deepest emotions. This is reflected in the challenging technical aspects of the music, which require a high level of skill and dedication to play. This project offers a unique perspective on Bach's masterpieces and invites listeners to immerse themselves in the emotional and technical complexity of his music. We look forward to sharing this special interpretation with you soon.