Andrew D. Rohn | Madison, WI United States | 10/10/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I think this is the music they play in heaven. Possibly my favorite music on earth, and I love jazz and rock too. I have heard many other versions of the Brandenburgs, and they all sound quaint and much too fast compared to this. You MUST get the Brandenburgs 4-6 too, so you can hear Rudolph Serkin play the cadenza in Number Five on piano. Yes, it's not authentic, but it is heart-stoppingly, transcendentally beautiful. I love the harpsichord, but I will eat my hat if anyone can get the tenderness and joy out a harpsichord that Serkin gets in this performance. INDISPENSABLE!"
THE VIRILE, RICH-BLOODED BACH!
Sébastien Melmoth | Hôtel d'Alsace, PARIS | 01/30/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"
J. Sebastian Bach was a very virile, full-blooded man who worked all his life, had two wives, and sired about 20 children. Casals' realizations of Bach's music illustrate Bach's virility and vivacity. Casals conducts the Bach Concerti & Suites as he [Casals] plays the Bach Sonatas: with vim, vigor, and vitality; with rhythm, color, and accent; with dash, esprit, and intellect. In short, these are the very best realizations of the Brandenburgs available--or will ever again be available.
By the way, in these sessions and at rehearsals, Casals conducted sitting down with his cello on which he illustrated the tempi, accents and inflections he wanted for the orchestra, and used his cello bow as a baton. This is as real as it gets!
The soloists are wonderful. The recorded sound is bright and clear. The price is incredibly cheap. What are you waiting for?"
If you like Bach's Brandenburg Concertos - treat yourself.
Joe- noodles@nlamerica.com | Georgia | 11/09/1998
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I finally have found this recording on cd, as I had the vinyl recordings for years. Much to my suprise, I have never read a review of this particular recording. I have listened to many others, some critically acclaimed, but have never been more satisfied than after listening to these recordings."
Different, and in places sublime
Sébastien Melmoth | 03/23/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I tend to like a more tightly structured, geometric approach to this music, but this recording has its own beauty -- it's definitely of a different era. Modern instruments are just fine, but I do find myself wishing for a recorder instead of a flute in #4 -- to me a flute is just wrong for this music. Otherwise 5 stars -- some passages move me very deeply."