Inspired by Bach: The Six Solos for Violin

Violinist and visual artist Nicholas DiEugenio presents a tour de force program featuring the complete sonatas and partitas for solo violin by Johann Sebastian Bach. Widely considered among the masterpieces of the Baroque era, the six works will be accompanied in this program by projections.

We don’t know exactly when or exactly why Bach wrote his Sei Solo for “violin without bass” (probably around 300 years ago), and after their mid-19th century rise to prominence they have remained a staple in violin learning and literature ever since. Much has been made of the grammatical curiosity on their title page (Sei Solo reading variously as “you are alone” or “he is alone”), since Bach was famously meticulous and could easily have written Sei Soli (six solos). During the height of the pandemic, DiEugenio explored these works in conjunction with interviews of his musician-friends doing social justice work, in an effort to feel less alone himself. Since then, DiEugenio has created 32 original works of visual art inspired by each of these incredible, monumental pieces, which are projected as DiEugenio performs all six sonatas and partitas (BWV 1001–1006).

Nicholas DiEugenio has been heralded for his “excellent…evocative” playing (The New York Times), full of “rapturous poetry” (American Record Guide). DiEugenio is in demand as a soloist, chamber musician, and ensemble leader, creating powerful shared experiences in music ranging from early baroque to contemporary commissions. His award-winning album “Unraveling Beethoven” with pianist and wife Mimi Solomon was released in 2018 by New Focus Recordings, and other recordings include the complete Violin Sonatas of Robert Schumann (Musica Omnia) as well as a tribute to Pulitzer prizewinner Steven Stucky (New Focus). DiEugenio is a core member of The Sebastians as well as associate professor of music at UNC Chapel Hill. He has performed as guest Principal Second Violinist with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra. Nicholas plays a J.B. Vuillaume violin (1835) as well as a Karl Dennis baroque violin (2011).