Bach: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Apparently, no music could be simpler than these suites, composed for a single, unaccompanied instrument, and each made up of a prelude followed by a series of stylized Baroque dances: allemande, courante, saraband, minuet, bourré/e or gavotte, and gigue. Yet each suite, each movement has a striking individuality and each cellist makes the series his own. It is totally objective music and, at the same time, intensely personal. János Starker's view is spare, ascetic, technically flawless, suggesting much more than it says, like a fine line drawing by an old master painter. --Joe McLellan

Bach: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major, Music, Janos Starker, Johann Sebastian Bach, Harold Lawrence, György Sebök, Cello Solo, Chamber, Classical, Classical Composers, Classical Music, Single String Instrument with Keyboard/Continuo
Bach: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major
Average customer rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
  • SACD has excellent sound, but where is the G minor sonata?
  • Wonderful
  • Magnificent - But buy the 2004 SACD release
  • Epochal performance, poor remastering
  • simply not very good
 Bach: Six Suites; Sonatas in G major & D major

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by J.S. BachAll Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
CelloCello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music
Starker, JánosStarker, János | ( S ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:
  1. Dvorak: Concerto for cello in Bm; Tchaikovsky: Variations on a Rococo Theme
  2. Bach: Suites for Solo Cello
  3. Italian Cello Sonatas
  4. Janos Starker
  5. Brahms, Mendelssohn: Cello Sonatas

ASIN: B0000057L9
Release Date: 1991-11-08

Tracks:

  1. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Praeludium
  2. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Allemande
  3. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Courante
  4. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Sarabande
  5. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Menuets
  6. Suite No. 1 In G Major: Gigue
  7. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Praeludium
  8. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Allemande
  9. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Courante
  10. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Sarabande
  11. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Menuets
  12. Suite No. 2 in D minor: Gigue
  13. Suite No. 3 In C Major: Praeludium
  14. Allemande
  15. Suite No. 3 In C Major: Courante
  16. Suite No. 3 In C Major: Sarabande
  17. Suite No. 3 In C Major: Bourrees
  18. Suite No. 3 In C Major: Gigue
  19. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Praeludium
  20. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Allemande
  21. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Courante
  22. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Sarabande
  23. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Bourees
  24. Suite No. 4 In E-Flat Major: Gigue

Tracks:

  1. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Praeludinium
  2. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Allemande
  3. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Courante
  4. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Sarabande
  5. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Gavottes
  6. Suite No. 5 in C minor: Gigue
  7. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Praeludinium
  8. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Allemande
  9. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Courante
  10. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Sarabande
  11. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Gavottes
  12. Suite No. 6 In D Major: Gigue
  13. Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Adagio
  14. Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Allegro Ma Non Tanto
  15. Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Andante
  16. Sonata In G Major, BWV 1027: Allegro Moderato
  17. Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Adagio
  18. Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Allegro
  19. Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Andante
  20. Sonata In D Major, BWV 1028: Allegro

Amazon.com

Apparently, no music could be simpler than these suites, composed for a single, unaccompanied instrument, and each made up of a prelude followed by a series of stylized Baroque dances: allemande, courante, saraband, minuet, bourré/e or gavotte, and gigue. Yet each suite, each movement has a striking individuality and each cellist makes the series his own. It is totally objective music and, at the same time, intensely personal. János Starker's view is spare, ascetic, technically flawless, suggesting much more than it says, like a fine line drawing by an old master painter. --Joe McLellan

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars SACD has excellent sound, but where is the G minor sonata?.......2006-12-02

Recently, I have been replacing my very favorite classical records with CD's. I've always loved my Mercury records of Bach Cello Suites, played by Starker, so decided to purchase the CD. I also have the record of the Cello Sonatas with Starker & Sebok, which are equally wonderful. I decided to purchase the SACD of this recoding because it also included the Sonata set, or so I thought. If I only wanted the suites I probably would have bought the RCA Victor set based on the reviews here.

Upon receiving this SACD, I decided to check the sound quality against my records, which have a wonderful warm sound. I found that the sound on the suites was almost indistinguishable between the record and SACD (the only difference being that the record played a little louder at the same volume level). On the sonatas, the records sounded a touch mushy. The SACD was crisper without loosing any of the warmth. So while there may be technical problems with the CD of this recording, in my opinion the SACD has excellent sound.

Then I noticed that the SACD only included two of the three sonatas that are on the record. The beautiful G minor sonata (which is my favorite) was not included. This recording in terms of artistry and technical quality deserves 5 stars, but because of the stupid decision to exclude the G minor sonata I take away a star.

5 out of 5 stars Wonderful.......2005-07-22

OK. So I'm no musician, but for my money this is superb, beautifully played and emotionally expressive.

I am quite alarmed by the reaction of some of the other reviewers here. The sound quality really is not as bad as all that (in fact it's pretty clear compared to most) and Bach's suites are brought to life in a way that I have not heard before.

Where other lesser musicians make these sound like a cold, academic exercise, Starker invests just the right amount of feeling to make this a truly emotional and rewarding experience.

Have a listen and find out for yourself. I'm sure many will disagree with me - they're just wrong!

5 out of 5 stars Magnificent - But buy the 2004 SACD release.......2005-01-08

Janos Starker has recorded the Bach cello suites five times, and when asked why he has made so many, he said it was because each time he signed with a new record company, they wanted him to do another set(!) His honest, no-nonsense personality shows through in his Bach performances as well. Some claim his approach is too dry and unemotional, but after many years of listening to and playing these suites, his clarity and sense of structure keep me engaged long after I've grown tired of more visceral, "romantic" approaches. Many say this is his best set, but if you chose it, avoid at all costs the CD for sale here and buy the hybrid SACD/CD released in 2004, also available on amazon.com, even though it costs more. The reviewers below (and others) have found this CD to have been recorded a full tone sharp (ugh!). I don't know about that since I don't have it, but the 2004 SACD/CD sounds right on pitch to me.

3 out of 5 stars Epochal performance, poor remastering.......2003-12-19

The reviewer below expresses it best. Starker's Mercury set of the suites is, for most cellists, the gold standard. Technically speaking, they are flawless. Artistically speaking there is laser-beam musical understanding that arcs the entire recording. The later RCA recording is even deeper in understanding, but Starker's Bach is akin to Gould's in this regard: you want both the earlier and the later -- they are both that great.

What a shame then that shoddy remastering has put these disks into the realm of the unlistenable. Anyone who is intimate with these pieces will notice immediately (as the prior reviewer did) that they are sharp. It is so distracting that I cannot bear to put the disk in the player. A next to criminal moment in the rush to cash in on the LP to CD bonanza!

Performance: 5+ Stars; remastering: 0 Stars.

2 out of 5 stars simply not very good.......2002-04-06

I saw this CD set in a used music store at $5.99, and naturally thought I was getting a great buy. Frankly, I wish I could get my money back. Of all the recordings of the suites that I've heard by big-name cellists, this is by far the weakest.

Judging purely from a standpoint of cello technique, Janos Starker was certainly once the world's greatest cellist, and this virtuosity shows in the technical passagework of the 6th suite, originally written for a 5-string instrument but played by Starker (and most cellists) on only 4. But there is far more to Bach's cello suites than technical skill. Starker's sound is very dry and often thin (and not just because of poor remastering), and his interpretation is extremely odd to say the least. He has the tendency to take time and make phrase endings in places where neither the melodic nor harmonic line call for them. He often chooses not to vibrate certain notes, seemingly arbitrarily. And he clearly has no concept of the piece as a polyphonic work, trying (and often failing) to make smooth melodic lines when there are none to be found.

For an incredible, historical look at Bach from the first half of the last century, grab the Casals recording. For a unique look at a modern interpretation of Bach, get Hanani. For excellent period instrument playing, buy Bylsma. And for a rich, romantic interpretation, buy Rostropovich. Do yourself a favor, and just stay away from this one.

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