Bach Cello Suites

[Mandryka]

My choices to day would be:


Dmitri Badiarov (Ramée) noble and dancing

Ralph Kirshbaum (Virgin) unbelievably beautiful

Morten Zeuthen (Danish Classico) spirited and dancing


No. four would be more difficult to choose, I tend to say: 

Ophelie Gaillard (Aparte - her second and recent recording) or Henri Demarquette (FAE)

It's such a shame that Badiarov isn't as  "spirited" (good word) as Lipkind in the faster dances. In the courante to 2 or the first gavotte in 5,   for example, Lipkind is very spontaneous; and the way he ornaments the minuet in 2 is wonderfully light and free. Badiarov doesn't play like that!

In the slower music and the preludes Badiarov's articulation is really revealing for me -- with a sense of long line and legato, and the  play between the musical phrases is very clearly expressed, without ever giving the impression of being didactic. That sense of phrase interrelationships is something that I've come to really value in this music -- something I look for in a performance.

And the varied tones of the cello Badiarov uses really seems to me to transform the music poetically -- a clear example of how important texture is in musical expression. Because of
Badirev's performance  it's become really clear to me that the choice of instrument can have important poetic consequences in this music: as much if not more so here as with keyboard music.

Jlaurson's comments about Lipkind make me tempted to buy the CDs just to read the notes -- I'm listening to it on spotify right now. I like ideas, though maybe not neo-platonic ones. The sound may be better too on the CDs: it's excellent on spotify nonetheless.

While posting this I checked and noticed that Zeuthen's CD has appeared on spotify now, so I can easily give that an airing. Same for Ophelie Gaillard's. Henri Demarquette isn't represented in Baroque music yet.

[Marc]

Btw: I only have the Viersen cellosuites, and I thought they were disappointing. Smooth, slick and neat playing, yet with nothing more or something special to offer.

[prémont]

Btw: I only have the Viersen cellosuites, and I thought they were disappointing. Smooth, slick and neat playing, yet with nothing more or something special to offer.

But in this field I am an uncompromising completist, so ...

[Marc]

But in this field I am an uncompromising completist, so ...

Really??

Well, have good fun and satisfaction when the discs arrive ....

[prémont]

It's such a shame that Badiarov isn't as  "spirited" (good word) as Lipkind in the faster dances. In the courante to 2 or the first gavotte in 5,   for example, Lipkind is very spontaneous; and the way he ornaments the minuet in 2 is wonderfully light and free. Badiarov doesn't play like that!

In the slower music and the preludes Badiarov's articulation is really revealing for me -- with a sense of long line and legato, and the  play between the musical phrases is very clearly expressed, without ever giving the impression of being doctrinaire. That sense of phrase interrelationships is something that I've come to really value in this music -- something I look for in a performance.

And the varied tones of the cello Badiarov uses really seems to me to transform the music poetically -- a clear example of how important texture is in musical expression. Because of
Badirev's performance  it's become really clear to me that the choice of instrument can have important poetic consequences in this music: as much if not more so here as with keyboard music.

Jlaurson's comments about Lipkind make me tempted to buy the CDs just to read the notes -- I'm listening to it on spotify right now. I like ideas, though maybe not neo-platonic ones. The sound may be better too on the CDs: it's excellent on spotify nonetheless.

While posting this I checked and noticed that Zeuthen's CD has appeared on spotify now, so I can easily give that an airing. Same for Ophelie Gaillard's. Henri Demarquette isn't represented in Baroque music yet.

I do not know Lipkind´s recording - since I have kept back from acquiring it, as it is very expensive, and because I have got the feeling, that it is too romantic to my taste. May of course be wrong.

I agree with your description of Badiarov´s recording. BTW it does not hurt me, that it is relative calm and a tad understated. But of course I also listen to many other recordings of these works.

[PaulSC]

Btw: I only have the Viersen cellosuites, and I thought they were disappointing. Smooth, slick and neat playing, yet with nothing more or something special to offer.

But in this field I am an uncompromising completist, so ...

I can't really argue with "smooth, slick and neat," but I would add the more positive descriptor "warm," and I like her sense of tempo and her rhythmic and dynamic approach quite a lot. The prelude of the fourth suite displays these virtues nicely. At the very least, I predict this is a case in which premont won't regret is completism.

By the way, premont, do you know Andrej Bauer's recording of the cello suites? I knew him previously as a contemporary-music specialist (with a fine recording of the Lutoslawski concerto to his credit). I don't think it's a brand-new recording, but I only noticed it for sale as a download in the last few months. I don't know if it's currently available in other formats, either. Anyway, Bauer is a bit further from HIP practice and has a few idiosyncrasies (such as very slow trills when playing in a slower tempo), but he plays each movement with great character and makes effective (but never disruptive) embellishments in the repeats.

[Antoine Marchand]

Btw: I only have the Viersen cellosuites, and I thought they were disappointing. Smooth, slick and neat playing, yet with nothing more or something special to offer.

Really? I haven't heard anything of her cello suites, but I was listening to some other works (not Baroque music, anyway) and she sounded impassioned and technically perfect. Additionally, I loved her intelligent face:

[asin]B006CUA2V4[/asin]

[Marc]

Btw: I only have the Viersen cellosuites, and I thought they were disappointing. Smooth, slick and neat playing, yet with nothing more or something special to offer.

Really? I haven't heard anything of her cello suites, but I was listening to some other works (not Baroque music, anyway) and she sounded impassioned and technically perfect. Additionally, I loved her intelligent face:

Yes, agreed. 
And she's a very intelligent musician, too.

I can't really argue with "smooth, slick and neat," but I would add the more positive descriptor "warm," and I like her sense of tempo and her rhythmic and dynamic approach quite a lot. The prelude of the fourth suite displays these virtues nicely. At the very least, I predict this is a case in which premont won't regret is completism.

The sound quality of this recording is beautiful .... and warm indeed. But Viersen's mostly intelligent interpretation left me rather cold, I'm sorry to say. Despite that, I agree that it's not 'thrown-away money'. Bach's music can stand an intelligent approach.

[bumtz]

I enjoy a lot Maurice Gendron's 1964 recordings on Philips. Light and elegant.

[asin]B00000419C[/asin]

[George]

Now, I've not made a purchase yet - even the MP3 download price is a little steep, and the actual discs w/ notes (along w/ shipping to me across the pond) would be expensive - I'll await some comments from our illustrious Bach experts! 

I avoid Pristine releases like I avoid the really drunk girl at the party.  Their work (I've sampled many different transfers they have done) always sounds processed and unnatural to me.

The best transfer I have heard of the Casals suites (I've compared the Pearl, Naxos and Opus Kura) is the Opus Kura:



http://www.amazon.com/Bach-Cello-Suites-Nos-1-6/dp/B0000DI4TE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325127837&sr=8-1

[George]

#2 Wispelwey, Channel Classics Bach, Cello Suites Peter Wispelwey, Channel Classics HIP, lean, second choice unrelated to HIP-ness http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2004/07/dip-your-ears-no-4.html

A man after my own heart. I love his playing and the sound is excellent.

[prémont]

I can't really argue with "smooth, slick and neat," but I would add the more positive descriptor "warm," and I like her sense of tempo and her rhythmic and dynamic approach quite a lot. The prelude of the fourth suite displays these virtues nicely. At the very least, I predict this is a case in which premont won't regret his completism.

I suppose you are right.

By the way, premont, do you know Andrej Bauer's recording of the cello suites? I knew him previously as a contemporary-music specialist (with a fine recording of the Lutoslawski concerto to his credit). I don't think it's a brand-new recording, but I only noticed it for sale as a download in the last few months. I don't know if it's currently available in other formats, either. Anyway, Bauer is a bit further from HIP practice and has a few idiosyncrasies (such as very slow trills when playing in a slower tempo), but he plays each movement with great character and makes effective (but never disruptive) embellishments in the repeats.

No, I never heard about it , until you mentioned it a short time ago. Sounds interesting. Can you provide a link. Thanks in advance.

[prémont]

The sound quality of this recording is beautiful .... and warm indeed. But Viersen's mostly intelligent interpretation left me rather cold, I'm sorry to say. Despite that, I agree that it's not 'thrown-away money'. Bach's music can stand an intelligent approach.

Given the choice I prefer an intelligent approach without emotion to an overly emotional approach without intelligence. But neither are ( of course) ideal.

[PaulSC]

I suppose you are right.
No, I never heard about it , until you mentioned it a short time ago. Sounds interesting. Can you provide a link. Thanks in advance.

Here is info and links. Note the corrected spelling of the artist's name.

Bach Cello Suites
Andrzej Bauer, cello
CD Accord 032 (1999)

MP3s at Amazon (A source of short audio previews, even if you have no interest in purchasing this format)

The physical CD turns out to date from earlier than I originally thought; it seems to be scarce and maybe out of print.

Here is a listing at the record label website: A. Bauer: Bach Cello Suites
And finally, the CD Accord label is sold through the musicweb-international website, and ACD 032 is listed as "back in stock" on this page: ACD 032 at musicweb-international

One more note on the recording itself: Bauer is recorded in a highly reverberant space. There's enough dry sound up front to allow good clarity, but there is a significant halo of reverb in the background.

[milk]

I'm curious what folks think of this recording. I'm enjoying it.

[jlaurson]

I'm curious what folks think of this recording. I'm enjoying it.

Much discussed in these pages, and as far as I remember positively throughout.


http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/10/bach-suites-shouldered.html

Summarizing my review:  "With this recording Kuijken offers something genuinely different, genuinely interesting, and wholly charming: not at all just a curiosity but a keeper."

[milk]

Much discussed in these pages, and as far as I remember positively throughout.


http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2011/10/bach-suites-shouldered.html

Summarizing my review:  "With this recording Kuijken offers something genuinely different, genuinely interesting, and wholly charming: not at all just a curiosity but a keeper."

Thanks!

[Leo K.]

I've gone back to listen to Lynn Harrell's account of the suites:



I'm still very attracted this recording, as it holds memories of first discovering these works some years ago. I remember buying it at a used store in order to have another to compare to Yo Yo Ma's second set on Sony.

But yesterday I was able to buy Ophelie Gaillard's first account (on iTunes) and listening today I am transfixed! This is so stunning. I've got to hear more Baroque cello!

This is a wonderful thread to hear what is out there. Wow, I am really happy with aquiring the Ophelie Gaillard.

[SonicMan46]

I'm curious what folks think of this recording. I'm enjoying it.
 

Excellent - have owned that set for a couple of years, along w/ an alternate take on the instrument performed by Dmitry Badiarov - some information HERE - he studied w/ Kuijken and is an instrument builder, too!

Also, check out the Old Musical Instruments thread for some more discussion on this fascinating 'shoulder cello' -

[Leo K.]

I'm curious what folks think of this recording. I'm enjoying it.

I just heard the Suite in G from this account (for the first time) and I'm amazed. WOW. This is looking to be my dream recording of this work, and what I was seeking!