Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Diego Fasolis, I Barocchisti :: Bach: Brandenburgische Konzerte Nr. 1-4, BWV 1046-1049 [Hybrid SACD]

The SACD Option

Virginia Opera Fan | Falls Church, VA USA | 09/03/2007

(4 out of 5 stars)

"It's a little odd that these warhorses haven't garnered the SACD coverage of some of Bach's other works. I think the only competition comes from the out of print Somary on Vanguard. If you are looking for an SACD version of the Brandenburgs, you will find this a very thought provoking alternative. Fasolis and his fine period instrument group provide lusty playing in the fast movements and do not slight the tenderness and melancholy of the inner movements. The natural horns are bracingly raucous in the first concerto. There is attention to varied string articulation with both legato and detached playing being employed. Bach's polyphony is in high relief - listen for example to the oboes chattering away in the second trio of the first's menuetto movement.



The crescendo at the end of that concerto's second movement is also very effective. The trumpeter in the second concerto turns in a virtuoso account of the music. Neither an interpolated slow movement or improvisation for the first violin is employed in the third, the cadential chords being played 'straight'. Number four's soloists are very good, with more of the varied string articulation mentioned earlier from the violin.



Sound is smooth and spacious in surround mode and SACD stereo, capturing the color of the period instruments very nicely. The only blemish in the production is the English notes - awkwardly translated from the German original.



I'm not yet ready to place this in my pantheon of favorite recordings. Pinnock/English Concert, Leonhardt, and the Berlin Akademie are still my personal best bets for period instruments. The old Ristenpart version (out of print) is still an excellent choice for modern instruments. For the SACD format, this is a better bet than Somary on Vanguard."

PURE JOY!!!!!!

J. Poss | Pahrump, Nevada | 06/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This review is of the multi-channel SACD layer listened to in 5.1 surround.



This recording and performance of Bach's Brandenburg concertos with I Barocchisti directed by Diego Fasolis is by far the best performance I've ever heard and I've heard many as follows:



English Chamber - Raymond Leppard

Musica Antiqua Koln - Reinhard Goebel

La Petite Bande - Sigiswald Kuijken

Concentus Musicus - Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Leonhardt Consort - Gustav Leonhardt

The Academy of Ancient Music - Christopher Hogwood

Le Concert Des Nations - Jordi Savall

The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra - Ton Koopman



I've never heard Bach's Brandenburgs performed with as much passion as I Barocchisti infuses into this performance. Their dramatic arches and inflections are new and extraordinarily right on, making the Brandenburgs even more exciting. The original instruments sound so gorgeous in this SACD (a 24 bit 96kHz original converted to DSD for SACD) it was truly like having them in my room with me. The emotion of the performance and the earthiness of the original instruments made for what I can only describe as PURE JOY!!

"

Excellent!

W. Ke | San Francisco, CA USA | 03/15/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I am surprised this recording has not garnered more attention--it is simply fantastic. Though I wouldn't necessarily recommend this as a first recording (go for Pinnock/English Concert or Pearlman/Boston Baroque), those of you that have multiple versions of the Brandenburgs should definitely give this one a try. The tempos are lively, the balance is superb, and there is an aspect of cohesiveness in each concerto that is rarely found in other recordings. I Barocchisti plays with the same creativity and musicianship one would associate with any leading Italian period instrument ensemble. Especially for those that enjoy the recent recording by Alessandrini/Concerto Italiano, or Antonini/Il Giardino Armonico, this set is a must!"