Bach Cello Suites

[Marc]

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

[asin]B00000419C[/asin]

One of my faves in the non-HIP league. Very good sound quality, too.

[Leo K.]

One of my faves in the non-HIP league. Very good sound quality, too.

I agree wholeheartedly.

[PaulSC]

A new recording of the Suites played by Richard Tunnicliffe, probably best known as principal cellist of the Avison Ensemble, is due out in mid-March on Linn Records. The previews sound enticing to me...

http://www.linnrecords.com/recording-j-s--bach-cello-suites.aspx

http://amzn.com/B0072X056C

[Leo K.]

Incredible! After the playing the first disk (first time) I am hooked.

[jlaurson]

Incredible! After the playing the first disk (first time) I am hooked.

Ah!  Welcome to the mother of Cello Suites.

Can't say it's the best, but it certainly is the one that has done most to form my tastes and it's the one I inevitably compare others to. Musicality, patrician... gorgeous. And great sound for its time.

[Kontrapunctus]

For those who like no-nonsense, straightforward interpretations, I can recommend Martin Ostertag, particularly if you want an SACD version. He is much less mannered than Gavriel Lipkind, but at times I prefer the latter's more dramatic readings.  I suppose the covers might symbolize their differing approaches!

[DieNacht]

Got the melodiya 3LP Bach suites with Daniel Shafran yesterday (price 0,8 Euro  ).

Heard the 1st Suite but was disappointed - very slow and dignified tempi, which can be all-right, but not any feeling of tension, build-up or relief through livelier moods. Any pros as regards his recording ?

[Scion7]

I have Truls Mork on CD, but I always seem to come back to:

[prémont]

Got the melodiya 3LP Bach suites with Daniel Shafran yesterday (price 0,8 Euro  ).

Heard the 1st Suite but was disappointed - very slow and dignified tempi, which can be all-right, but not any feeling of tension, build-up or relief through livelier moods. Any pros as regards his recording ?

I only know a live recording by him of the suites 1,2,3,4 & 5 IIRC. I was disappointed by his slow and laboured playing and his unashamed romantic style and lack of formal awareness.

[prémont]

For those who like no-nonsense, straightforward interpretations, I can recommend Martin Ostertag, particularly if you want an SACD version. He is much less mannered than Gavriel Lipkind, but at times I prefer the latter's more dramatic readings.  I suppose the covers might symbolize their differing approaches!

I feel like needing another set of the cello suites, and now that Lipkind´s recording has been rereleased and is affordable, I think I will acquire it just for the interest, even if I may not like it. I would rather acquire Mørk´s recording and Ma´s first recording which Scon7 mentiones above or even Ostertag´s recording, but that would be silly, as I own them already.

[mahler10th]

I bought this on offer for only £3 about three years ago.



It is quite bold, the Cello is weighted, deep and resonant playing.  Does anyone have any thoughts on it?

[PaulSC]

A new recording of the Suites played by Richard Tunnicliffe, probably best known as principal cellist of the Avison Ensemble, is due out in mid-March on Linn Records. The previews sound enticing to me...

Previews notwithstanding, this has turned out to be a bit of a disappointment — not bad, but unremarkable. The performances seem careful and a bit uninvolved. RT takes all of the repeats, nearly always without any ornamentation or other appropriate variation, although the repeats of the D major Sarabande take the form of elaborate "doubles." The five-string cello piccolo on which this six suite is performed has an unusually thin (but not unpleasant) voice.

All in all, this doesn't add much for those who have already accumulated multiple recordings of the suites, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first purchase for this repertoire.

[Karl Henning]

Thanks for the word, Paul

[prémont]

Previews notwithstanding, this has turned out to be a bit of a disappointment — not bad, but unremarkable. The performances seem careful and a bit uninvolved. RT takes all of the repeats, nearly always without any ornamentation or other appropriate variation, although the repeats of the D major Sarabande take the form of elaborate "doubles." The five-string cello piccolo on which this six suite is performed has an unusually thin (but not unpleasant) voice.

All in all, this doesn't add much for those who have already accumulated multiple recordings of the suites, and I certainly wouldn't recommend it as a first purchase for this repertoire.

Thanks for the warning. Maybe I can play down my completistic tendencies. Actually I regretted the purchase of another recent Linn recording (Pavlo Beznosiuk´s Bach sonatas and partitas), so who knows?

[Kontrapunctus]

Actually I regretted the purchase of another recent Linn recording (Pavlo Beznosiuk´s Bach sonatas and partitas), so who knows?

I made the same mistake! I'd like to think that violinists back in the day played with a bit more feeling than Pavlo does!

[Brian]

I'm a big fan of the suites as played on viola, and noticed this new release:



Based on two or three minutes of listening before I head off to grab lunch, Antoine Tamestit's sonority is lighter and sprightlier than Maxim Rysanov's on BIS. Track timings are similar, but Tamestit is playing a Stradivarius viola with a baroque bow (or rather, a modern replica), which explains the fuller-bodied and consequently more romantic sound from Rysanov. Both rank among our best violists. I look forward to hearing more of the album.

[aukhawk]

Looks interesting.
I'm new to this thread but I have the McCarty set on viola and it's one of my 2 or 3 favourites for the Cello Suites.

My 'safe' recommendable set would be Mork.
If I could only have one set it would probably be Zelenka - very good recording, vivacious playing.
However the one I usually turn to is Angela East - definitely wayward not to say weird - but never dull.

[Que]

Has anyone heard Wispelwey's third take yet?

[asin]B008TUDI2A[/asin]

Q

[Sammy]

Looks interesting.
I'm new to this thread but I have the McCarty set on viola and it's one of my 2 or 3 favourites for the Cello Suites.

I wasn't aware that anyone else had the McCarty viola set.  If I remember right, it's on a label named Ashmont; whether it's still in print I don't know.  Anyways, it is a romantically inclined set that's very fine.  The only other viola set I have is from Barbara Westphal on the Bridge label; also very fine and with more "edge" than McCarty's version.

[aukhawk]

... the McCarty viola set.  If I remember right, it's on a label named Ashmont; whether it's still in print I don't know. 

"Currently unavailable" at Amazon UK but they do still offer it as downloads.  I got a used CD when it popped up there.  The 2nd suite is particularly good I think.  As you suggest, creamy-smooth and a complete contrast to the 'wrestling with a bear' approach typified by Angela East.  I like both.