The Winnipeg Baroque Festival opened its run last Sunday with a pair of choral concerts.  

After a brief pause, the early music offerings are set to ramp up again with 7 concerts happening over the next four days, including one featuring a solo artist: violinist Karl Stobbe.  

 

 

Performing two selections from the Bach Sonatas and Partitas for Solo Violin, the concert builds on the momentum of Stobbe’s latest disc which came out last month.  

“That disc is part of a larger project which is, basically, about all the Bach (works for solo violin),” says Stobbe.  

Having recorded all six, the plan is to release them over the coming years.  

The upcoming concert features two yet to be released selections: the Sonata No. 1 in G minor, BWV 1001, and the Partita No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1004.  

“I just think they’re really compelling to listen to,” says Stobbe about the pairing. He also admits the works were “under (his) fingers,” giving him even more reason to share his interpretations with the audience.  

Also on the program, two works by Canadian composers, ones with whom Stobbe has a personal connection.  

The composer, conductor and violinist Murray Adaskin was “probably one of the first great Canadian violinists,” according to Stobbe.  

“He was the teacher of my teacher, Andrew Dawes,” recounts Stobbe.  

Adaskin wrote his “Sonatine Baroque” specifically for Dawes and when Stobbe started studying with the dedicatee, he was encouraged to play the composition and even performed the work for the composer in his home.  

“It was a great, great honour,” says Stobbe. “(Adaskin) gave me a signed part and wrote me an inscription. It was really nice.”  

The other work on the program is by a longtime pal of Stobbe’s: composer Michael Oesterle. The two went through university together and the violinist is always keen to play music by the Canadian composer.  

“I’ll play anything of his anytime I can,” says Stobbe.  

This work was composed for him specifically, and, after a bit of a delay, gets its world premiere on Sunday afternoon.  

Karl Stobbe performs “Sei Solo” at 3 p.m. on Sunday, April 19 at St. Andrew’s River Heights United Church.  

For tickets and more details, visit: www.winnipegbaroquefestival.com  

Karl Stobbe -- and his 1806 by Nicolas Lupot instrument -- treated us to an in-studio performance of the fourth movement, Giga, from the Partita no. 2 in D minor. 

"It's a great little dance piece," says Stobbe. 

 

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