Brandenburg Concertos (Bonus DVD)

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
If you're familiar with Alessandrini and his sparkling period instrument ensemble you expect interpretations featuring rhythmic drive, colorful playing, and original insights. Those characteristics are what help make this version of Bach's perennial and oft-recorded Brandenburg Concertos so compelling. Tempos are generally on the fast side, but never overly swift, while slow movements have just the right touch of soulfulness. Virtually without exception, the solo bits are done with imaginative, fluent expertise, and Gabriele Cassone’s rendition of the famous trumpet part of the Second Brandenburg provides musical thrills, as well as virtuoso ones. Alessandrini himself takes us on a wild ride through the Fifth Concerto’s brilliant harpsichord cadenza. In addition to the complete Brandenburgs, this set includes another, earlier version of the Fifth's harpsichord solo, a cantata Sinfonia drawn from the Third's opening movement, and a 43' DVD film featuring scenes from the recording sessions and an interview with Alessandrini about Bach. Add Naïve's superb sonics and this set zooms into the preferred handful of Brandenburg Concerto recordings. --Dan Davis

Tracks:

I: (Allegro)
II: Adagio
III: Allegro
IV: Menuet & Trio
I: (Allegro)
II: Andante
III: Allegro Assai
I: Allegro
II: Adagio (By George Malcolm)
III: Allegro
I: Allegro - Iona Brown
II: Andante
III: Presto

Customer Reviews:

The epitome of Baroque.......2007-06-26

I'm trying to decide how to rate this. I certainly enjoy this CD and listen to it quite often (especially during study sessions), but on the other hand, I can't help but feel that a person needs a certain level of understanding and respect for Baroque music to appreciate this CD.

Yes, you've got the infamous 3rd Brandenburg Concerto, and yes, this CD is played wonderfully. It's true that this is a fabulous bargain, but to really love it, a person needs to love Bach and Baroque music. I simply like this CD. I find it a purely enjoyable listen (and personally think that some of the other Brandenburg Concertos are better than no. 3, just saying) that I come back to quite often.

Really, the great playing and wonderful bargain scream "BUY ME". It's a friendly buy that is a great deal. You won't regret it, even if you find that the style isn't quite your favorite.

Recommended.

Wonderful recording of this marvelous Bach's masterpiece.......2007-06-12

I was very pleassed to hear this wonderfull recording of Neville Marriner of these marvelous Bach's masterpieces.

Best modern instrument performances in my opinion.......2007-03-26

I think with the Brandenbergs, the deciding factor on which set to buy is whether you prefer modern instruments or period instruments. There are probably more great period instrument recordings (Trevor Pinnock and the English Concert is my personal favorite) to choose from than modern instrument recordings, but I think this is the best available modern instrument recording. You pretty much cannot go wrong with anything by Marriner and the ASMF, but this is truly one of their better recordings and has been for a number of years. There may be others out there just as good, but I doubt if you will find any better.

Bach at his best.......2007-02-08

Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, like much of Bach's works, are very modern sounding pieces. That's what makes them so appealing. Although each movement is no more than a few minutes long, the melodies and form of each are well developed and gorgeous.

This recording is especially worth buying because Marriner and the Academy produce a well-balanced and well-played interpretation. The instruments are not period instruments, and I think that that adds to the overall flavor of this recording. Although Boston Baroque offer recordings using period pieces, they don't match the interpretive genius of Neville Marriner.

Overall, this disc is a great buy -- only a few dollars for some of my favorite pieces by Bach. Don't let the low price fool you into believing that that somehow is an indication of quality.

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

I am not a musician nor can I identify Bach's Brandenburg Concerto number one from number five. However, I am an avid listener and do enjoy classical music. I know how good the Academy of St Martin in the Fields is and what a great conductor Sir Neville Marriner is. Most of all, I can identify a real bargain when I see one and this CD qualifies as a great bargain.

Bach's concertos are relaxing and very enjoyable. The Academy performs under the sure hand of Sir Marriner at the highest level. Each CD is just over an hour, the sound is clear and as Gramophone says "these performances are easy to enjoy".

This review refers to both the CD for concertos Nos. 1-4 and the CD for concertos Nos. 5 & & with Orchestral Suite No. 1.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields

Average customer rating:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces
The best modern instrument performances I have heard
Easy to Enjoy
Rediscovery of some favorites

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 5 & 6/Orchestral Suite No. 1; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Johann Sebastian Bach , Sir Neville Marriner , and Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

$6.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos No. 1-4; Neville Marriner; Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons; Violin Concertos
Bach: Violin Concertos
Mozart: Horn Concertos Nos. 1-4
Rimsky-Korsakov: Scheherazade; Capriccio Espagnol; Russian Easter Overture

ASIN: B000239B82
Release Date: 2004-07-13

Tracks:

I: Allegro - George Malcolm
II: Affettuoso - George Malcolm
III: Allegro - George Malcolm
I: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
II: Adagio Ma Non Tanto - Stephen Shingles
III: Allegro - Stephen Shingles
I: Ouverture
II: Courante
III: Gavotte I & II
IV: Forlane
V: Menuet I & II
VI: Bourree I & II
VII: Passepied I & II

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful recording of these Bach's masterpieces.......2007-06-08

Marvelows recording by Neville Marriner of these Bach's masterpieces. I was pleassed to hear this record

The best modern instrument performances I have heard.......2007-03-26

Easy to Enjoy.......2006-11-25

Rediscovery of some favorites.......2006-08-20

I had forgotten how delightful it is to hear these pieces in their entirety! Every now and then I'd hear excerpts on the radio, etc., but not the whole work. These are marvelous examples of the best J.S. Bach had to offer in a wonderful set of recordings by Sir Neville Mariner and the band.

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

Average customer rating:

nobody tops Boston Baroque
posthorn problems
He was a german baroque father
A Great Set
Great Pair of CDs

Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque
Johann Sebastian Bach , Martin Pearlman , Boston Baroque , Christopher Krueger , Marc Schachman , Daniel Stepner , and Friedemann Immer
Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 2
Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 35-41
Beethoven: 9 Symphonies

ASIN: B000003D1F
Release Date: 1996-07-23

Tracks:

I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro
IV. Menuetto; Trio; Polonaise; Trio
I. (Allegro)
II. Andante
III. Allegro Assai
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio
III. Allegro

Tracks:

I. Allegro
II. Andante
III. Presto
I. Allegro
II. Affettuoso
III. Allegro
I. (Allegro)
II. Adagio Ma Non Tanto
III. Allegro

Amazon.com

Boston Baroque and Martin Pearlman recorded a splendid set of the Brandenburg Concertos on period instruments in 1993 and 1994. Made entirely in the US, these snappy, crisply articulated, and fluent performances rely heavily on the talents of violinist Daniel Stepner (who doubles as one of the two solo violists in Concerto No. 6). Among the highlights are the joyous finale to Concerto No. 4 and the superb cembalo cadenza in No. 5, played by Pearlman. Along with outstanding sound, there's a winning sense of freshness and discovery in these performances. --Ted Libbey

Customer Reviews:

nobody tops Boston Baroque.......2007-05-12

I am just knocked out by Boston Baroque's performances and the technical perfection of their recordings. This music is still very much alive in these good hands. If you like Bach and you have a decent sound system, you'll play this one for your friends.

posthorn problems.......2006-09-29

the telarc recording is full and detailed as would be expected, but the posthorn player botches a lot of lines, or at least plays them with totally hamfisted phrasing. of course it's probably tough on an older instrument but the end result is that it distracted me from what was probably an otherwise excellent recording.

He was a german baroque father.......2005-03-18

He wrote this piece in Köthen 24.3.1721 near the capital Berlin. this work was dedicated to Count Christian Von Brandenburg.
The six Concertos are bizarre dimension from Bach. Because the concertos 1, 3, 5 are dance-menuett sätze. The concertos 2, 4, 6 are fugue forms. The concerto 5 is very special because the Cemballo/Hapsichord was represented or played in a solo instrument. this might be the oldest piano concert in the music history.

PS: this CD is only dedicated to the intelligent music listeners! not to the crappy fans who love Britney Spears or Tina Alquiera.....

A Great Set.......2005-03-17

These are the best versions of the Brandenburgs I have heard. The tempos are quick, as baroque tempos should be, the music sounds light, as baroque music should, and the period instruments make the recording all the more "authentic." I even recommend this over Pinnock and the English Concert's version. Sound quality is very good. Highly recommended.

Great Pair of CDs.......2004-07-14

I don't know much about classical music, but I must say that these CD's are great. I love the music and the production quality is perfect. I've heard the same pieces preformed by other groups and these CD's always sound far better to me.

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock

Average customer rating:

Another five-star review
A wonderful and lifting experience
Outstanding period performances
Good Recordings!
Top Notch Brandenburg

Johann Sebastian Bach: 6 Brandenburg Concertos / 4 Orchestral Suites - The English Concert / Trevor Pinnock
The English Concert , Trevor Pinnock , and Johann Sebastian Bach
Manufacturer: Archiv Produktion
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Box Sets | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach: Concertos
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons (Le Quattro Stagioni Op 8 Nos 1-4) /Standage * English Concert * Pinnock
Vivaldi Concertos
Corelli: 12 Concerti grossi, op. 6
Complete Mozart Symphonies / Pinnock, English Concert

ASIN: B0000057D8
Release Date: 1989-05-09

Tracks:

Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Adagio
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Allegro
Concerto No.1 BWV 1046: Menuetto - Trio 1 - Polacca - Trio 2
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Andante
Concert No.2 BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Adagio
Concerto No.3 BWV 1048: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Allegro
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Andante
Concerto No.4 BWV 1049: Presto

Tracks:

Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Affettuoso
Concerto No.5 BWV 1050: Allegro
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: ohne Satzbezeichnung
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Concerto No.6 BWV 1051: Allegro
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Ouverture
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Courante
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Gavotte 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Forlane
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Menuet 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Bourree 1-2
Ouvertures No.1 BWV 1066: Passepied 1-2

Tracks:

Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Ouverture
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Rondeau
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Sarabande
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Polonaise
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Menuet
Ouverture No.2 BWV 1067: Badinerie
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Ouverture
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Air
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gavotte 1-2
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Bourree
Ouverture No.3 BWV 1068: Gigue
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Ouverture
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Bourree 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Gavotte
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Menuet 1-2
Ouverture No.4 BWV 1069: Rejouissance

Customer Reviews:

Another five-star review.......2007-03-27

I first heard this recording when I got it out of the library and found it so incredible that I had to buy it for myself. The sound is warm, not tinny like the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (the other recording I have, which I've never been terribly fond of), and very expressive. I cannot add any technical comments to the other reviews already written, but I can say that I agree that Trevor Pinnock and Simon Standage are a Baroque musical force to be reckoned with.

A wonderful and lifting experience.......2007-03-02

For me the only lacks in here are just for personal tastes: I find the fifth and sixth concertos a bit boring. On the other hand I've got already six different versions of these Brandenburg and this is which I like the most. The sound is (IMPRESSIVE) crystal clear and is played not only flawless, but with such devotion and passion that I almost fell on my knees the first time I listened to it.
I also recomend the version of Reinhard Goebel guiding the Música Antiqua Köln: it's awsome with its fabolous recreation of the baroque sounds.
If you like Bach and if you had the I Musici version of these Concertos, throw them away and get this Pinnock's: you won't regret a bit and you will be skyrocketed to Heaven.

Outstanding period performances.......2007-02-21

These recordings are excellent. Pinnock's Brandenburg concertos remain the standard for period instruments, offering exceptional musicianship and an authentic rendition. The Overtures are also great, although I greatly prefer the readings of Reinhard Goebel and Musica Antiqua Koln to these. Still, as a low-priced compilation of Bach's most popular orchestral works, this is an excellent set, and you could do much worse. Those who are new to classical music will find this set to be a great starting point.
In spite of the fact that the Brandeburg concertos were recorded using early digital technology, the intimate setting of these small ensembles neutralizes many of the problems of tinny, hollow sound that plagued the digital format in its early years. As for the Orchestral Suites, these were recorded using analog technology and sound fantastic.
These recordings are integral for those who prefer period instrument performances, and this is one of the great pioneering period instrument ensembles out there. Recommended.

Good Recordings!.......2007-01-15

In my opinion this set of recordings is very good. I study music and I have no complaints about how they were done. If you are looking for a very sufficient set of recordings for these works, this is definatly the set.

Top Notch Brandenburg.......2007-01-07

There are tons of Brandenburg recordings out there. How they stack up, of course, is a matter of personal taste. But having listened to many, this one stands out. It's crisp, fresh, and brings out the power of the music. In far too many renditions of Bach, much gets lots. Not so here. Certainly better technology has made things easier over the years. We can hear what might have been muffled in the past. But more than that, this interpretation makes the work come alive. Well done Trevor Pinnock.

Average customer rating:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . .
Wundebar!
There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles
Brandenburg Gems
Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos (Complete)

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Handel: Water Music, The Music for the Royal Fireworks, The Alchymist, Three concerti a due cori, Two arias for wind band
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)
Bach - The Complete Brandenburg Concertos / Pearlman, Boston Baroque

ASIN: B000004164
Release Date: 1993-08-10

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Adagio
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 In F, BWV 1046: Menuetto Polacca
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F, BWV 1047: Allegro assai
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 In G, BWV 1048: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Adagio
Violin Concerto In E, BWV 1042: Allegro assai

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G, BWV 1049: Presto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Affetuoso
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D, BWV 1050: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat, BWV 1051: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Andante
Violin Concerto In A Minor, BWV 1041: Allegro assai

Customer Reviews:

COMPLETE Brandenburg Concertos . . ........2006-02-24

Excellent. I enjoy Bach but haven't been able to get the complete Brandenburg Concertos. This is excellent listening for classical music lovers.

Wundebar!.......2005-11-20

I would just like to tell anyone interested in this recording that it is an excellent one. The musicianship is superior, and the sound is fantastic. The listener however, should be aware of the stylistic tendencies of the recording.
If you are looking for the historical kind of recording, this probably is not the ideal choice. The tempos tend to be on the slower side, and mostly modern instruments are used. Nevertheless, if you are not primarily interested in a historically accurate recording, this is wonderful.
All of the pieces have their own distinct character. I personally enjoy Concerto number 4: the recorders give it a light, almost "adorable" kind a feel, as ridiculous as that may sound. Number 5 has a great presentation of the harpsichord. Number 6 is also a rather interesting piece because it involves no violins. Don't underestimate that concerto's poignancy and ability however; the lower strings are more than capable of expression on their own.
I could go on about this recording extensively, but, for the reader's sake as well as mine, I'll end it now. In short, it's a great recording, and I highly recommend it.

There seems to be two dominant Brandenburg styles.......2002-09-30

There's the slow, baroque and very medieval sounding playing and then there's the modern, faster paced playing. I think both are laudable, so I would probably recommend you look at this one and the Anthony Newman one. I personally prefer the Anthony Newman one, as it provides very strong horns and harpsichord with an upbeat tempo. Just thought I'd mention this as most of the Brandenburg stuff I hear over the radio or in 90% of CD's is the slow baroque style.

Brandenburg Gems.......2001-01-01

I wanted to get a complete set of the Brandenburg Concertos, and lucky for me, I picked up this bargain-priced two CD set. This recording is great! I Musici plays with an informed baroque style, but not so much so that they get bogged down in the reactionary, scholarly prerogatives of much of the period instrument movement. The horns ring effortlessly, brightly, and clearly, the sound of the flute is enchanting without using excessive vibrato, and the strings are completely unified creating the full effect of Bach's masterpiece. The violin concertos are taken at a slow tempo, and I Musici, it can be argued, is guilty of overdoing the sentimentality. But the performances of the violin concertos, none-the-less, are solid. This recording is a steal.

Excelente versión de los Brandenburgo.......2000-09-07

La orquesta de cámara I Musici durante muchos años fue considerada una de las mejores de todo el mundo, y aunque se le relaciona sobre todo con la obra de Vivaldi, también interpretaba obras de otros compositores desde el barroco hasta el romanticismo; tal es el caso del presente disco, en el cual esta orquesta se enfrenta a los conciertos de Brandenburgo de Bach. Debo decir que su interpretación resulta muy buena, tomando en cuenta que estos discos se grabaron originalmente en 1965; sin embargo, la calidad de la grabación es excelente, si perdonamos la baja resolución de las grabadoras de la época. Lo realmente sensacional de estos discos es la aparición de Maurice André en el concierto No. 2, de Franz Brüggen en el No. 4 y de Felix Ayo y Maria Teresa Garatti en prácticamente todos los conciertos, lo cual obviamente se traduce en una versión que raya en el virtuosismo. Si a esto añadimos un precio muy razonable por dos discos compactos, encontramos que esta resulta una forma ideal de conocer por primera vez esta obra. Adicionalmente, en estos discos vienen los 2 conciertos para violín solista que Bach compuso, aunque la grabación de estos últimos es todavía más antigua (de 1958).

Average customer rating:

Heavenly.
A must have album!
Pyrotechnics
A must for the trumpet player's library!

Trumpet Concertos

Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

Baroque Trumpet Concertos
Famous Classical Trumpet Concertos
Wynton Marsalis - Baroque Music for Trumpet
Greatest Hits: Trumpet
Classic Wynton

ASIN: B000002SDO
Release Date: 1992-09-29

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Andante
Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 In F Major: Allegro assai
Suite For Trumpet In D Major: Overture
Suite For Trumpet In D Major: Gigue (allegro)
Suite For Trumpet In D Major: Air
Suite For Trumpet In D Major: Bourree
Suite For Trumpet In D Major: Marche
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Grave
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Arie
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Grave
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Vivace
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Minor: Andante
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Adagio
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Major: Andante
Trumpet Concerto In E Flat Major: Allergo

Tracks:

Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Adagio - Presto - Adagio
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Concerto In D Minor Op. 9 No. 2: Allegro e non presto
Concerto In D Minor Op. 9 No. 2: Adagio
Concerto In D Minor Op. 9 No. 2: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Andante
Trumpet Concerto In D Major: Allegro grazioso
Concerto For 2 trumpets Op. 46 No.1: Allegro
Concerto For 2 trumpets Op. 46 No.1: Largo
Concerto For 2 trumpets Op. 46 No.1: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Allegro moderato
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Adagio
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Introduction: larghetto
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Allegro
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Siciliana
Trumpet Concerto In C Major: Allegro giusto

Customer Reviews:

Heavenly........2003-09-20

That is how I describe Maurice Andre's sound. So smooth and suave, and accurate every time. The Michael Haydn Concerto In D is one of the most impressive trumpet works ever recorded. Andre does it better than anyone else ever did, if you ask me. He also takes on J.S. Bach's "Brandenburg Concerto No. 2" and the results are majestic. The essential Joseph Haydn Trumpet Concerto is on here as well, a piece in which Andre plays an especially stunning cadenza on the first movement. The Telemann, Tartini, Handel, Vivaldi and Marcello are all impeccably played. Maurice Andre was the second or third trumpet player I started listening to after Miles Davis. I also discovered Clifford Brown around then, back in 6th grade. Since then, they have all remained in my list of all-time favorite trumpet players and musicians.

A must have album!.......2001-09-17

The incredible playing of Maurice Andre fills up all two of these cds. From the incredible brandenberg reading to the Cimarosa. This album from start to finish is a text book on beauty, style, phrasing, and how to play the trumpet. Andre is a true master of the trumpet and even more a true master musician.

Pyrotechnics.......2001-06-21

Maurice André is one of those people whom one suspects isn't quite human like the rest of us (Michala Petri is another). To anyone who has ever struggled to get as much as a parp or a toot out of a trumpet, the astounding technical facility and the pure, clear, pitch-perfect sound and wonderful tone of an André is a revelation that some people are indeed more equal than others. This collection represents André in his prime (he's now sadly semi-retired) and he does a wonderful job. Many of these works are not originally for trumpet, and only a modern piccolo valved trumpet allows them to be played. Nevertheless, they come up shining.

A must for the trumpet player's library!.......1999-09-23

If you're into trumpet concertos, Maurice Andre is as smooth and technical as they come. This two-CD set contains not only Bach, but also Handel, Telemann, Haydn, Albinoni, and others. If you have Andre's concertos in your sheet music library, these CD's make for great accompaniment. The CDs are great while studying as well. Mega cerebral (when you're into that kind of thing)!

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico

Average customer rating:

Lush, melodic, beautiful
Hmm
I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording
Not the Best Brandenberg
I love to hate them

Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Il Giardino armonico
Johann Sebastian Bach , Giovanni Antonini , Il Giardino armonico , Stefano Barneschi , Paolo Beschi , Marco Bianchi , Marco Cera , Duilio Galfetti , Alberto Grazzi , Paolo Grazzi , and Michele Barchi
Manufacturer: Teldec
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Vivaldi: The Four Seasons
Vivaldi - Il Proteo / Coin, Il Giardino Armonico
Beethoven - Die Symphonien (Symphonies 1-9) / Abbado, Berlin Philharmonic
Grieg: Peer Gynt
Vivaldi: Il Giardino Armonico; Les Concertos de Chambre

ASIN: B000000SRC
Release Date: 1997-09-16

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. I In F Major: Menuetto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Andante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. II In F Major: Allegro Assai
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Adagio
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. III In G Major: Allegro

Tracks:

Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Adante
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. IV In G Major: Presto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Affettuoso
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. V In D Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Adagio ma non tanto
Brandenburg Concertos: Concerto No. VI In B Major: Allegro

Amazon.com essential recording

Il Giardino Armonico is an original instruments group made up of skilled young Italian specialists in Baroque music. They bring a light, airy touch to the Brandenburg Concertos, with deeply felt slow movements, sprightly Allegros, and blistering Prestos. Unlike some of their ilk, they play with vitality while avoiding interpretive extremes; the finale of No.3, for example, is taken at a blistering pace but never feels too fast for the music. Solos are highly accomplished, with scintillating violin and wind contributions, along with charmingly blatty period horns in No. 1. The engineering is a big plus, helping to make this one of the best period performances of these perennial favorites. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Lush, melodic, beautiful.......2006-09-10

This is a wonderful example of the Brandenburg Concertos played on period instruments. It is full of life, probably the best rendition I have heard of these concertos. The words "lush" and "melodic" do not do it justice. Giovanni is a master of the recorder - his technique is wonderful and sounds so effortless! My husband is hooked on this CD and he is not a big fan of classical music, and my boss, who likes the bigger sounds of Wagner and big symphonic bands loved this CD. I, myself, am a lover of the more intimate sound of chamber music, baroque and renaissance music. This is one of my all time favorite recordings. A must for your collection!!

Hmm.......2006-04-23

I think when I finally sit down and write my book on how the whole world of art music--from listeners to performers to composers--went totally haywire in the final days of the "Empire" (This'll happen around 2035 AD), I'll try to get permission to quote the series of reviews over head and down below. There's a modern myth that needs to be demolished that says that lovers of classical music are smarty-pantses. Read a bunch of Amazon classical reviews and then go peruse those for a few Aerosmith albums and note the similarities. While I'd argue that classical music aficionados should be a little wiser than most I've heard more mature and inciteful comments from the mouths of Beanie Baby collectors than I have from a lot of Bach and Beethoven fans (I'm immediately recalling one sophisticate who pronounced all music written after the death of Schubert as worthless). What classical music fans have more than anything else is opinions, largely because it's a fertile field for them which is still no excuse for dumb ones. Let me preface with this:

Teldec's marketing of this music has nothing to do with the musicians, the performance, or the composer. If you've ever spent an afternoon in a meeting with marketing "people" you'd know that their contact with anything we would know of as "reality" is tenuous. Current hot imbecilic maxims are about selling sizzles and not steaks, or boxes and not what's inside the boxes. Corporations actually think it's a good idea these days to hire marketing people who aren't fans of the product as it interferes with their spinning, lying, and duplicities, even if they aren't needed. Marketing people should all be carefully placed in a big sizzling box and the lid should be nailed shut.

The silly reputation of this particular group of performers is not the issue here, especially if we're worrying about whether this is going to be "rock and roll" Bach or not. Refer to the previous paragraph and welcome to the Brave New World.

This is a period instrument recording, meaning I, at least, expected blatting horns and fast speeds. Sometimes with recordings like this I expect speeds that many would deem psychotic. I once read that conductors in the early 1800s played like they were at a race track. No less a light than Felix Mendelssohn was mentioned as being a speed freak--the same Mendlessohn who was no taker of risks and thought his good friend Berlioz was a nut case. I assume this happened because there may have been something traditional about it. Classical music slowed down when its audience stopped being younger passionate artists and intellectuals and started being blue-haired ladies living in Philadelphia, middle-aged white guys, and modern Cherubinis. Big Band music used to be played at crazy speeds until it became nursing home music. Henry Rollins stopped shouting and now sounds like he's running for selectman. Slower speeds usually indicate the audience wants to be lulled to sleep and not energized.

The harpsichord sounds metallic because harpsichords often sound metallic. That's why Mr. Piano invented the piano some years later on and why Chopin did not write etudes for harpsichord.

If I've owned only four or five different recordings of a major work I don't tend to get all hot and heavy pro or con on a newer version. Reason? Well, zowie wowie, exposure to that few recordings hardly qualifies me as an expert. I'd feel like a fool pronouncing, say, Kleiber the Younger's Beethoven Fifth the all-time best or worst recording of that symphony based on that kind of meager sampling. Plus, in a crowded field there really is no best, just a clump of standouts near the top of the list.

All this said, let's actually look at this recording for real. First, sonically, it's a marvel. Beautifully engineered with stupendous presence. Second, these kids--punk rockers, rappers, Scientologists, or whatever the marketing jerks portray them as--clearly know how to play their instruments with style, accuracy, and panache. Third, the conductor knows how to make Baroque music breath and wiggle and surge and flow without making it sound like Klemperer and his big-arsed orchestra back in the 1960s (a recording I dearly love). On the other hand this interpretation thoroughly lacks the sewing machine quality that was a deep problem with many period instrument performances, coincidentally during the reign of Philip Glass and Steve Reich.

This recording struck me immediately as a well-reasoned and balanced performance--hardly academically correct (AC not PC), barely delightfully psycho like Goebel's on DGG, and not exactly likeably parlor and wine-and-cheese party safe like older versions by Marriner. I'd call this a vibrant and accomplished set of Brandenburgs perfect for those that want a modern period instrument recording, that are not interested in musico-political cat fights, and that are above needing the juvenile imprimaturs of "all-time greatest" or "best Brandenburg concertos ever!!!"

I'm giving this five stars because I like it a lot, it'll probably be my most frequently played one for a while (of the 756 recordings of this work that I own), and it does everything right. Aesthete below has it nailed.

I can hardly believe that many of us reviewers listened to the same recording.......2006-02-05

I'm a professional singer who specializes in Baroque and early repertoire. This has made me a firm believer in the historical performance movement. It has done so much to give new shape and dynamism to works that were heretofore rendered mostly in broad, lugubrious strokes. The movement continues to evolve, and as it does the amount of color and depth infusing this repertoire continues to grow and take on new dimension. No longer are many of us content to hear Monteverdi and Lully sung with the extremely bright, straight tones of Emma Kirkby and Nancy Argenta, but rather wish to hear the more appropriate lush and shimmery vocal colors of singers like Sandrine Piau, Guillemette Laurens, Christine Brandeis and Lorraine Hunt Lieberson.

With that in mind, I've heard more recordings of the Brandenburgs than I care to name. And I'm just as tired of the anemic sound and too-fast tempi of ensembles like Hogwood's as I am of the too slow, syrupy interpretations of Furtwangler and Karajan. This recording by Il Giardino Armonico is the only recording I've heard that manages to make these extraordinary works really speak.

Antonini bridges the gap between rich lyricism and crisp articulation better than anyone I can think of who performs this repertoire. My favorite of all the Brandenburgs is #4, and the five-voice fugue in the last movement is the standard by which I judge all the best interpretations of this work. Antonini does the most remarkable things with this piece. The subject is rendered by each voice in the most song-like, tuneful, vocal manner. Instead of thumpy, fast, dry (for most period recordings) or wobbly, incoherent, unintelligible (for most modern instrument recordings) here is great legato playing without any loss of crispness or transparency of texture. Where the line may jump a fifth, he connects the lines where most conductors demand extreme separation, and then creates the most astonishing, perfectly shaped messe di voce you can imagine. That said, all the entrances of the fugue subject are completely distinguishable, and no entrance has the same quality as any other. All the instruments are allowed to let their unique color and texture come forth, and Bach surely understood how important this was when he orchestrated the work. Furthermore, all of the silences in the work are sharply drawn by the ensemble and as dramatic as you might hear in any Beethoven symphony. I could hardly believe what I was hearing, and I was enormously grateful that, finally, someone got it right.

The other great measure of a high-quality period recording of this work is the natural horn playing on the Brandenburg #2. While it's a hair rough and decidedly masculine (the latter not being a bad thing), it's extremely powerful and expressive, and the player (Gabriele Cassone) understands how to make his instrument speak and dazzle, rather than just hammering out a technically perfect performance, which is all that most natural horn players can hope for.

It's rare that I don't have a complaint about a recording, but this is that exception. I recommend this piece heartily and unqualifiedly.

Not the Best Brandenberg.......2005-03-07

Save your money. Il Giardino breaks no new ground here and instead gives a rushed performance more reminiscent of something from a provincial opera company than an accomplished ensemble. The Corn is blares unexpectedly while the dynamics are all over the place. The audio quality may be good, but the music sounds so bad; especially the harpsichord which has an unpleasantly metallic timbre.

If you want a great new recording, get either the Tafelmusik recording under the direction of Jeanne Lamon (which has the best Concerto No. 5 around), or Jordi Savall's recording directing Le Concert des Nations/La Capella Real de Catalunya. Both of those recordings far outshine this one and make it sound like the work of amateurs.

I love to hate them.......2003-02-19

I own many disk of IGA including this, I've heard them in concert and even assist to a rehearsal. I would like to say that the way they make music doesn't have anything to do with authenticity. The strings players have a mostly modern tecnique, (most of them use chinrest and endpins). I would like to point out that the art from 1700 is not ugly as a whole or in its parts (look at paintings or architecture). Yes they do make ugly sounds and they do have very poor taste.

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment

Average customer rating:

One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos
my copy was ok
Could be great.
Production Error
Try before you buy

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos / Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment
Johann Sebastian Bach , Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment , Paul Goodwin , Catherine Mackintosh , Rachel Beckett , Mark Bennett , Monica Huggett , Alison Bury , Marion Scott , Lisa Beznosiuk , Malcolm Proud , Elizabeth Wallfisch , Pavlo Beznosiuk , Richard Campbell , Sarah Cunningham , William Hunt , John Toll , Richard Tunnicliffe , Timothy Brown , and Susan Dent
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Instrumental | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mozart: Great Piano Concertos
Brahms: Piano Trios Nos. 1 & 2
Beethoven: Symphonien Nos. 5 & 7 / Kleiber, Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
Tchaikovsky: Symphony 6 "Pathétique" in B minor Op. 74
Haydn: Lord Nelson Mass / Willcocks, King's College Choir

ASIN: B00000J2PP
Release Date: 1999-06-08

Tracks:

Concerti No.1 in F Major: I. No Tempo Indication
Concerti No.1 in F Major: II. Adagio
Concerti No.1 in F Major: III. Allegro
Concerti No.1 in F Major: IV. Menueto - Trio I - Polacca - Trio II
Concerto No.2 In F Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Concerto No.2 In F Major: II. Andante
Concerto No.2 In F Major: III. Allegro assai
Concerto No.3 In G Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Concerto No.3 In G Major: II. Adagio - Allegro

Tracks:

Concerto No.4 In G Major: I. Allegro
Concerto No.4 In G Major: II. Andante
Concerto No.4 In G Major: III. Presto
Concerto No.5 in D major: I. Allegro
Concerto No.5 in D major: II. Affetuoso
Concerto No.5 In D Major: III. Allegro
Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: I. No Tempo Indicated
Conceto No.6 In B-flat Major: II. Adagio na non tanto
Concerto No.6 In B-flat Major: III. Allegro

Amazon.com

The Brandenburg Concertos seem to be Bach's most popular works by far, and there are so many recordings of them out there--on period instruments and "modern," and at all price ranges. Of course, it's hard to pick out one or even two to call the "best"--but this reissue of a 1989 recording by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has a good claim for the title of "Best Buy Brandenburgs." These performances don't have the splashy extroversion of Il Giardino Armonico or the caffeine-pumped, high-velocity thrill of Musica Antiqua Köln, but they're not overly reserved or dull, as some English ensembles are accused of being. The OAE's instrumental playing is very skillful indeed, with particularly nice work from the horns in the third movement of the First Concerto, and from trumpeter Mark Bennett in the Second; and the tempos are moderately quick (which means that they would have been considered rather fast before 1980 or so), but without being breathless. The slow movements sing sweetly--the viola playing of Monica Huggett and Pavlo Besnosiuk in the slow movement of the Sixth Concerto is especially lovely--and the quick outer movements have an infectiously bouncy pulse. If money is no object, you might want to consider Il Giardino Armonico or the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, but these here are surely the best Brandenburgs available at such a low price. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

One of the best recordings of Branderburg concertos.......2006-03-06

I own quite a few recordings of the Branderburg concertos (Suzuki, Saval, Boston Baroque...) this one is one of the best.

There is an evident feel of musical joy coming out of this recording. I can't find other ways to describe it.
The musicians are enthusiastic about the work they are playing, restrained most of the time but when it is called for they give their best.

Highly recommended.

my copy was ok.......2006-02-09

This is an excellent version of the Brandenbergs. The tempos are good and the instruments are all clearly heard. I noticed that some sort of production problem led to some poor reviews with the 2 CDs having the same music for some people. I did NOT have that problem and think this set can be highly recommended.

Could be great........2006-01-02

I got a gift certificate for Borders and I decided to get this as I have been wanting it despite reports of the same music being on both discs. I brought it out to the van and immediately played both CDs and they both were the exact same music. I return the disc at Borders before we left the parking lot. What little we played sounded so right. Brilliant energy and refinement. Excellent sound quality. If I knew I could get one that was manufactured correctly I would purchase it in a heart beat.

Very Dissapointing.

Production Error.......2005-12-08

I would like to confirm the problem reported by Mr. Whittet. I purchased the disks in November 2005 and found the same mistake that he did. Disk 1 has the same music as Disk 2.

In other ways this is a spectacular recording. The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment gives a graceful and articulate reading of the concertos, and the recorded sound is clear, warm, and spacious. But, despite the bargain price, it's not worth it just to get two copies of concertos 4-6.

Try before you buy.......2005-11-23

Watch out for a manufacturing error with this 2CD set. I found that the exact same music (Concertos 4-6) was recorded on each CD in the set (they are labelled CD1 and CD2 but both contain the music for CD2). I returned it, obtained a replacement, and the replacement has the exact same problem, so it is not an isolated event. I believe these performances would be excellent if I could only get to hear them all.

Average customer rating:

Impeccable yet Lusty Performances of the Beloved Brandenburg Concerti
Italianate Brandenburgs - and a bonus DVD

Bach: Brandenburg Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach , Concerto Italiano , and Rinaldo Alessandrini
Manufacturer: Opus 111
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Blowout Box Sets | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

More Titles at Least 20% Off | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

All Classical Music Blowout | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

Opera & Vocal | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Schubert: String Quartets Nos. 13 & 14
Haydn: The Paris Symphonies Nos. 82-87
Gramophone Classical Good CD, DVD & Download Guide 2007 (Classical Good CD, DVD, & Download Guide) (Classical Good CD, DVD, & Download Guide)
Bach: The Art of Fugue; Keyboard Concertos
Vivaldi Edition: Le Quattro Stagioni (with bonus CD: Portrait)

ASIN: B000ALCFYI
Release Date: 2005-10-18

Tracks:

(...)
Adagio
Allegro
Menuet
Trio A 2 Hautbois E Bassono. Corni E Vile Tacent
Menuet Repetat
Poloinesse. Tutti Violini E Viole Ma Piano. Violino Piccolo Tacet
Menuet Ab Inizio
Trio A 2 Corni & 3 Hautbois In Unissono
Menuet (...) Ab Inizio/Avec Grande Reprise
(...)
Andante
Allegro Assai
(...)
Adagio. Allegro
Sinfonia

Tracks:

Allegro
Andante
Presto
Allegro
Affettuoso
Allegro
Cadenza (First Version; 1st Movement: Bars 147-180)
(...)
Adagio, Ma Non Tanto
Allegro

Amazon.com

If you're familiar with Alessandrini and his sparkling period instrument ensemble you expect interpretations featuring rhythmic drive, colorful playing, and original insights. Those characteristics are what help make this version of Bach's perennial and oft-recorded Brandenburg Concertos so compelling. Tempos are generally on the fast side, but never overly swift, while slow movements have just the right touch of soulfulness. Virtually without exception, the solo bits are done with imaginative, fluent expertise, and Gabriele Cassone's rendition of the famous trumpet part of the Second Brandenburg provides musical thrills, as well as virtuoso ones. Alessandrini himself takes us on a wild ride through the Fifth Concerto's brilliant harpsichord cadenza. In addition to the complete Brandenburgs, this set includes another, earlier version of the Fifth's harpsichord solo, a cantata Sinfonia drawn from the Third's opening movement, and a 43' DVD film featuring scenes from the recording sessions and an interview with Alessandrini about Bach. Add Naïve's superb sonics and this set zooms into the preferred handful of Brandenburg Concerto recordings. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Impeccable yet Lusty Performances of the Beloved Brandenburg Concerti.......2006-02-04

Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano offer one of the most exhilarating performances of the much recorded and much performed Bach Brandenburg Concerti in the available repertoire today. The zest, warmth and easy tenderness these works convey has rarely sounded so fresh and well played. Each of the 'solo instruments' are superb and the recorded sound is so clear that it begs credibility that the listener is not in the hall with the Concerto Italiano.

While there are numerous recordings, both in the archives and in the seemingly yearly new releases, this 2 CD set is, for this listener, the most rewarding. And for those who like to get the feel of the backstage machinations of just how music flows from the page to the CD there is a DVD that is interesting to see once, but in no way is it as important an incentive to buying this set as the performances themselves. Highly Recommended - even it you have multiple other recordings of this timelessly delightful music. Grady Harp, February 06

Italianate Brandenburgs - and a bonus DVD.......2005-11-10

The first thing one notices with this set is the cover illustration, a photo of a magnificent fourteen-point stag looking out a window while walking in what looks like a deserted multistory concrete parking garage. I have no idea how it is supposed to relate to the music but it certainly is a striking image.

The next thing one notices, and this is more important, is that the musicians -- one to a part in the ripieno group -- are swinging the music in a loose and somehow very Italianate manner. This is fitting, of course, considering that the concerto grosso was invented in Italy by the likes of Corelli and Vivaldi, whose music Bach knew (and copied) very well. One tends to think of the Brandenburgs as very German, but indeed they have more than a little Italian influence in addition to their Teutonic contrapuntal mastery. And all these performances are first-rate. There are jillions of recordings of the Brandenburgs, many of them excellent, but Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano have something rather new to say about them in that they bring that Italian joie de vivre to their traversal. The woodwinds are fruity and a little raw, the strings have suavity and lively phrasing. Of course, the six Brandenburgs feature all manner of solo instruments and there is not a weak soloist amongst them. I particularly liked the sound of the two recorders (designated 'fiauti d'echo' in the Italian headnote) in Concerto No. 4; they are complemented by the wonderful solo violinist, Antonio de Secondi, in that concerto. I also liked the corni di caccia in Concerto No. 1, and the marvelous harpsichord solos, done by Alessandrini (a real virtuoso) in the grandfather of all keyboard concerti, the Concerto No. 5. The dark mahogany tone of the violin-less No. 6 is impressive. The virtuosity of the trumpet soloist in No. 2 (Gabriele Cassone) takes one's breath away with its élan and brilliance. All in all these are marvelous performances worthy of shelf space with all those other terrific Brandenburgs; my own favorites include the Trevor Pinnock/English Concerto, the second set by Harnoncourt/Concentus Musicus, and Jeanne Lamon/Tafelmusik.

There is a bonus DVD (making three discs in all - 2 CDs, 1 DVD), filmed by Philippe Béziat, that shows Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano rehearsing (and featuring long uninterrupted chunks of the music) as well as a lengthy conversation with Alessandrini concerning his thoughts on the Brandenburgs: a worthy addition and quite informative, as are Alessandrini's extensive notes in the booklet.

This set deserves a place in anyone's library.

Scott Morrison

Average customer rating:

Exhilarating
The Lightness of Joy
A mix of good and not so good
Wonderful but
Fans of Hewitt will rejoice; everyone else may look askance

Bach - The Keyboard Concertos Vol 1
Bach , Angela Hewitt , Richard Tognetti , and Australian Chamber Orchestra
Manufacturer: Hyperion UK
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Bach - The Keyboard Concertos Vol 2
Bach: Fantasia in C minor; Two-Part Inventions; Three-Part Inventions; Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue
Goldberg Variations
Bach: French Suites / Angela Hewitt
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier (book 1)

ASIN: B0009K9P7K
Release Date: 2005-06-13

Tracks:

Allegro
Adagio
Allegro
(First Movement)
Andante
Allegro Assai
Allegro
Affettuoso
Allegro
Allegro
Adagio Ma Non Tanto E Dolce
Tempo Di Alla Breve

Amazon.com

This delectable collection of Bach Keyboard concertos is so unsullied by tradition or a point to prove that the listener is left refreshed. Angela Hewitt plays with such warmth and song-like smoothness in the slow movements that they are little islands of repose in the midst of Bach's perky outer movements, which Hewitt and conductor-violinist Richard Tognetti launch with unmatched verve, rhythmic thrust and quick-but-never-rushed tempi. The Fifth Brandenburg and the Triple Concerto also call for a violin and flute and Togneti and Alison Mitchell are ideal partners to Hewitt: the give and take seems simply like great "jamming." Every note is clear and each soloist (and the fine Australian Chamber Orchestra) adds ornaments which are pert and welcome. The big cadenza in the Fifth Brandenburg is like liquid--beautifully flowing and well-articulated by Hewitt--and while the virtuosity is never in doubt, she never draws attention to herself. She plays a modern piano and the Orchestra play modern instruments, but early-music performance practice and style are very much in evidence (including a harpsichord in the continuo section). This is Bach playing of the highest order and splendid entertainment. --Robert Levine

Album Details

Angela Hewitt Performed and Recorded with the Australian Chamber Orchestra in February 2005, a Perfect Collaboration Resulting in Two Volumes of Bach Keyboard Concertos.

Customer Reviews:

Exhilarating.......2007-07-12

This is a stupendous CD. Angela Hewitt's glorious and sensitive touch is beautifully matched by the precision and vitality of the ACO. Although some reviewers have decried the performance of Brandenburg No. 5, to me this is a highlight. The solo at the end of the first movement is rivetting.

If I wanted to introduce someone to the glories of Bach, this is the CD I'd play to them. Turn it up loud and rejoice.

The Lightness of Joy.......2007-01-19

Not being a musician, I cannot comment on any technical aspect of the performers' playing (except that the concertos sound just fine with a piano used as a solo instrument and a harpsicord used only as continuo).

However, having now listened to both volumes of the Keyboard Concertos several times, I know how they affect me - every time I listen, I feel better...lighter...simply more joyful.

George Leigh Mallory -- he of "Because it's there" Mount Everest fame -- also said what must surely apply to these performances: "What we get from this ... is just sheer joy. And joy is, after all, the end of life. We do not live to eat and make money; we eat and make money to be able to enjoy life. That is what life means and what life is for."

A mix of good and not so good.......2006-03-02

A problem for me with performances of harpsichord music on pianos is that the pianist often uses way too much pedal. Not that I want a piano to sound like a harpsichord-- but the cadenza at the end of the first movement of Brandenburg 5 did make me cringe. It was so smeared that sometimes notes disappeared. In other places, there seemed to be very out of place fortissimos that distracted one from the line of the music. All that said, Hewitt excellent pianism often shines through-- I was hearing musical lines that have not been in evidence in other recordings.

The soloist performance I'd rate 3 stars; the support of the Australian Chamber Orchestra and the generally excellent sound bumps the overall rating to 4.

Wonderful but.......2006-02-26

I very much enjoyed Angela Hewitt's playing in Bach's keyboard concertos. Some might quibble that they are played on a piano, but horses and carts have also been replaced by motor cars. The ACO is one of Australia's treasures - described in London as the world's best chamber orchestra - and it gives Hewitt wonderful support. (The prolific reviewer Larry VanDeSande has eleswhere described the ACO as "a scrawny sounding period band" but LVDS seems to have sacrificed integrity for effect - he might equally describe the Chicago orchestra as "overblown and conventional"). The real problem with Hewitt and the ACO is that equally fine performances at a fraction of the cost can be found on Naxos with Hae-won Chang (piano) and the Camerata Cassovia. Fair dinkum and I kid you not.

Fans of Hewitt will rejoice; everyone else may look askance.......2005-11-12

You never know what's going to come back into style in classical music, do you? With Murray Perhaiah and now Angela Hewitt playing the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 from the modern grand piano, we seemingly have gone backwards in time to the era of the great pianists and wax recordings in the early 20th century.

Hewitt plays the traditional Bach keyboard concerti Nos. 1 and 7 from the piano and contributes a performance of the Bach "Triple" Concerto from the concert grand to fill out this well-stocked disk of Bach wonders. I only wish I had more wonderful things to say about the goings on.

What I find most unattractive about these renditions -- aside from the very unstylistic inclusion of a concert grand piano in the Brandenburg and Triple concerti -- is the way the combined forces mix styles.

In the opening Concerto No. 1 for keyboard, Hewitt at times produces a sonority that is more appropriate for Brahms than Bach. She is matched by a scrawny sounding period band from Autstralia. This combination of Brahmsian piano and period string band...well, it just doesn't come off very well for me.

Other than her occasionally overripe tone and romantic sonority, I don't quibble with Hewitt's approach for the most part. She is a known commodity in Bach and her work here is similar to everything else she's done with this composer. Only a highly romanticized cadenza at the conclusion of the Triple Concerto -- which probably comes off best among the four concerti recorded here -- seems wayward.

On the pluse side, the opening movement of the Concerto No. 1 is pushed very hard in Bach style and the middle section of the Concerto No. 7 is very beautiful. It works well in the piano concertos but elsewhere seems to me to be a step backward to a time when people thought Bach surely must have meant to include a concert grand piano where he only had the limitations of the clavichord and harpsichord at his disposal.

Where this error in judgment is most apparent is in the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5. Listen to that long harpsichord solo at the end of the first movement by any good recording using a harpsichord, then come back to this recording and notice the way the piano not only lacks color throughout the concerto but almost seems to disappear at the same junction.

At other times, the concerto grand overwhelms the thin tone of Richard Tognetti's violin and Alison Mitchells flute, both here and in the Triple Concerto. This, to me, is what most renders this recording a curiosity and not essential Bach musicmaking.

I think this recording will be accepted with open arms by fans of Hewitt and those that hanker for a return to the era of Alfred Cortot's recordings of the Brandenburgs circa 1931. For others, this recording will more likely be considered an oddity to be heard once and discarded.

Music Review:

Music Review

music review

Music Review

Six [Import] [Original recording remastered]

Mario del Monaco

Laudetel Music From Duban Collection

Jam Miami: A Celebration of Latin Jazz

Invitation to Dance: Ballroom Dance

One Deep Breath

Lessa Faker [Import]

Night Flight [Extra tracks] [Original recording remastered] [Import]

My Generation [Deluxe Edition] [Import]

Sergei Rachmaninov: Symphony No. 3/Symphonic Dances

Life Ain't Made [CD-single] [Import]

Los Dos Grandes de Tierra Caliente

La Banqueta

American Folk Blues Festival '65 "Studio Session"

Remember the Night Parties