Ullén: Infinite Bach

For the numerous fans of Recomposed by Max Richter: Vivaldi, The Four Seasons, this album is cut from similar cloth. Here, much-loved Baroque violin concertos are given a 21st-century revamp. Swedish violinist Christian Svarfvar happily acknowledges Richter’s inspiration and asked Johan Ullén to recompose these four Bach concertos in a similar spirit. The result is thrillingly imaginative. Taking a phrase, reharmonising it, playing it upside down or backwards, yet never losing sight of the original, Ullén has done a terrific job, and Svarfvar and the London Philharmonic Orchestra play it with enormous spirit. A genuinely invigorating act of veneration that crosses the ages.