A longtime presence in the Minnesota community, Michael Antonello is a violinist and concertmaster who has been collaborating with pianist and composer Peter Arnstein for more than two decades. Among Michael J. Antonello’s solo albums is Bach Unaccompanied Sonatas and Partitas, which features his 1742 Guarneri del Gesù violin.

Composed between 1703 and 1720, Bach’s solo violin works reflect inspiration he took from his collaborative period with Joahnn Westhoff, an older Weimar composer. Bach was eminently capable at solo violin, having received more extensive training on the instrument than the harpsichord and the organ, which he later mastered. Sometimes incorporating polyphony, these solo pieces are unique in the way in which they expose the essence of the composer when presented before an audience. Almost strictly melodic, with very few harmonic counterpoints, the pieces are densely packed with musical expression.

A Fanfare Magazine review by Lynn René Bayley commends Antonello’s tasteful interpretations, which feature “exquisite tone” and “tremendous feeling.” The violinist is particularly adept in combining rich tonalities and excellent pitch with a steady rhythm that is relentless in its progression in pieces such as the Prelude to the E-Major Partita. For the reviewer, a distinct highlight is the slow movements such as the Sarabande of the D Minor Partita, in which the rhythm is relaxed and the emotive qualities of the instrument come to the fore.