Karl Stobbe, Violinist

Karl Stobbe is recognized as one of Canada’s most accomplished and diverse violinists, noted for his generous, rich sound, and long, poignant phrasing. As an orchestra director, concertmaster, soloist, or chamber musician, he has been an audience favorite in small settings and large venues. Avie Records’ recording of Karl performing Ysaÿe’s Solo Violin Sonatas was nominated for a JUNO Award, and received worldwide attention, including London’s Sunday Times who called Karl “a master soloist, recalling the golden age of violin playing... producing a breathtaking range of tone colours.” Pursuing his life-long love of the music for solo violin, Karl has recently created an online concert series featuring all the Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin by J.S. Bach. He has performed in North America’s most famous concert halls, including New York’s Carnegie Hall and Boston’s Jordan Hall, and has shared the stage with some of the most important and eclectic violinists of our day, from James Ehnes to Mark O’Connor.

www.karlstobbe.com

It would be hard to overestimate the influence that the Sonatas and Partitas have had on the violin world over 300 years – and many other wonderful pieces have been written for solo violin, with reference and reverence to Bach. Karl has often thought that it would be interesting and satisfying on both an intellectual and emotional level to pair the Bach Sonatas and Partitas with some of these other works, to hear some of the creativity and beauty that Bach inspired in others.

With that in mind, the Bach C Major Sonata and Bartok Solo Sonata seemed like an ideal place to start. Bartok is deeply inspired by the Bach C Major, and beyond the very different soundscapes that they employ, the compositional technique and interplay between these two great works is wonderful to behold. These two works encompass enormous musicality and expression, from the most virtuosic and extroverted to the most introspective delicacy. It’s a musical pairing that brings out their beauty out in new and unexpected ways.

"A highly emotional and illustrative experience that packs a punch!" - La Scena Musicale