I reported yesterday that I invested in a copy of Lara St. John's Bach
solo violin suites.

The gigue was a trifle slow for my tastes, as I remarked earlier.  I played
the CD again, and no one will be surprised to learn that the gigue was just
as slow second time around.

But what truly amazed me was the fugue!

It is a wonderful composition, first off, and secondly, Lara St. John
played it absolutely beautifully.  No doubt I will be asked to check out
Nathan Milstein's recording, or what have you.  But *I* say: check out
young St. John's playing.  This is a girl who feels the music.  there is
emotion without wallowing, there is feeling, and yet there's dignity.
There's individuality, I think, without self-indulgence.

Actually, the "individuality" part I'm not really qualified to comment on.
What seems individuality to me might simply be sheer bad playing to others.
But I enjoyed that fugue very much, and I had thought that of all Bach's
music, the unaccompanied violin genre would be the one that would leave me
cold.  I am amazed that this young violinist can make a believer out of me.
Now I *must* listen to some other recordings of these, and see if this one
is truly outstanding!

arch