Ultimately unrewarding Bach
A. Chapman | 09/03/2005
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I disagree with the 5 star ratings given for this disc. Performances are generally rather rushed and all the overtures truncated. Playing is acceptable though I was not inspired by the flautist in Suite 2. The trouble is ultimately this disc is neither particularly exciting nor played with real feeling ( if Baroque music can be !). Perfunctory is one word which comes to mind. Chopping great lumps off the overtures might improve the balance of the suites given most other movements are short but that does not really work either.Of course that is how 4 suites get on one disc. I played Musica Antiqua Koln's versions after and these are clearly better considered and are my personal versions of choice. Vastly superior although on 2 discs."
Glorious, Fresh and Engaging
JMB1014 | USA | 04/04/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
"The Bach suites for orchestra never sounded so good. The moment I got this in the mail, I plopped it into my computer at work. Even with those small speakers, let alone on my stereo at home, the sound in this set is as glorious as the performance. Whether or not you have a super audio CD player, don't hesitate: I have both and this sounds so fine on an ordinary CD player it is worth the expense. The strings are lush, the flute silvery and crisp, yet rounded and not whistle-like, as Galway's can be. The effect is to clarify the sound almost to a dramatic extent. Pearlman is also thoughtful and talented. His period ensemble is strong and, as the other reviewer has noted, not subject to many of the infirmities that can plague ancient music recordings. It also is not mannered in the way some performances are; though there is a little latitude with tempi, some of which are a bit faster, others a little slower, it is not to the point that it is annoying or seems to have been done for its own sake. I admit, I did have a problem with the brisk tempi of portions of Suite No. 2, which seemed to overtax the flute: you can hear him take a breath and pause very briefly. My sister is a professional flautist, so growing up I became very familiar with how that sounds. It is a bit distracting. The suites are arranged on one CD, with Suite No. 4 first, then Nos. 1, 3 and 2. To those of us who may be accustomed to listening to these in a particular order, the rearrangment enhances the fresh quality of the recording. I have enjoyed the versions by Ristenpart with Maurice Andre on the trumpet and Roger Bourdin on the flute, and of Menuhin and the Bath Festival Orchestra (which comes with an excellent rendering of the Musical Offering), but with the foregoing reservations, this is my favorite: engaging and fresh Bach. I recommend it highly."