Bach's Orchestral Music (Brandenburgs, Suites & Concertos)

[milk]

Yes, Freiburger are always quite zippy (I've got their Mozart, Mendelssohn and CPE Bach). Judging from the samples, this one is no exception. Both the Freiburger and the "Concerto Reconstructions" recording have the Concerto in D Major for three violins - just a note that may be of interest.

[Coopmv]

Yes, Freiburger are always quite zippy (I've got their Mozart, Mendelssohn and CPE Bach). Judging from the samples, this one is no exception. Both the Freiburger and the "Concerto Reconstructions" recording have the Concerto in D Major for three violins - just a note that may be of interest.

Check out the version by Gidon Kremer.  He was very fast too ...

[elotito]

I wonder if anyone could help me find a recording for the concertos.

At the moment I have a recording of this one with Glenn Gould:



I'm not a big fan of Gould generally but I love this recording. The only problem is that it sounds terrible. I've recently listened to Fasolis & I Barocchisti's Brandenburgs and also Fabio Biondi's Four Seasons, both of which have really opened my eyes to modern, well recorded performances. I love the energy in both of these, not to mention the audio fidelity.

I was think about this one but I don't know if it is in the same in the same vein as Biondi and Fasolis:



I heard Pinnock's recording of them but somehow it didn't beat Gould for me.

[jlaurson]

I've recently listened to Fasolis & I Barocchisti's Brandenburgs and also Fabio Biondi's Four Seasons, both of which have really opened my eyes to modern, well recorded performances. I love the energy in both of these, not to mention the audio fidelity.

I was think about this one but I don't know if it is in the same in the same vein as Biondi and Fasolis:

Uhm... no. Perrahia isn't anything like Fasolis or Biondi... not even in spirit, if you discount the obvious difference that one is played on a (plucked) string instrument and the other on a percussion instrument.

I've got Martin Stadtfeld, Perrahia, Tharaud, and Sebastian Knauer (includes Family members of JSB) in front of me... all four with the piano, all four with some degree of nominal nod towards HIP.... Let's exclude Stadtfeld right of the bat (yeesh)... I find that Tharaud / Labadie / and Les Violons du Roy are the most spirited, the most playful.

Still, my favorite modern Piano/Chamber Orchestra version must be Hewitt's... at least the second volume of it: http://ionarts.blogspot.com/2005/07/dip-your-ears-no-39.html

[mszczuj]

I've recently listened to Fasolis & I Barocchisti's Brandenburgs and also Fabio Biondi's Four Seasons, both of which have really opened my eyes to modern, well recorded performances.

I would say you are looking for this box:

[asin]B00285QBXK[/asin]

[prémont]

I wonder if anyone could help me find a recording for the concertos.
I'm not a big fan of Gould generally but I love this recording. The only problem is that it sounds terrible. I've recently listened to Fasolis & I Barocchisti's Brandenburgs and also Fabio Biondi's Four Seasons, both of which have really opened my eyes to modern, well recorded performances. I love the energy in both of these, not to mention the audio fidelity.

I think mszczuj is right in his recommendation.

But if you want a piano rendering, this one is my best choice:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-1685-1750-Klavierkonzerte-BWV-10441052-10581060-1065/hnum/9829348

[Geo Dude]

I would say you are looking for this box:

[asin]B00285QBXK[/asin]

Agreed.

[kishnevi]

I think mszczuj is right in his recommendation.

But if you want a piano rendering, this one is my best choice:

http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Johann-Sebastian-Bach-1685-1750-Klavierkonzerte-BWV-10441052-10581060-1065/hnum/9829348

Which, in a different format, is currently on sale at Arkvmusic for $9.99 as part of its offer on EMI Triples.

For my own part, I like both Hewitt and Perahia,  but I vastly prefer these works played on harpsichord--in which guise, the Moroney and co. set  is superb.

[Bogey]

This is another attractive option for the violin concertos and several reconstructions of lost violin concertos, including the concerto for violin and oboe:

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Its price is unbeatable.

With Greg, I give this the third rec.

[elotito]

Thanks for the suggestions, I'm going to check out that box set.

[dave b]

I have a couple of different recordings of Brandenburg Concertos and would be interested in what others recommend. Thanks in advance. I especially value the opinions of the "old timers" here, although I am one myself in age only---but I am only a novice in the area of classical music, even though I have been listening for years. I find it an endless area of exploration.

[bhodges]

I love this one, with Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano: HIP, lean and very fast, with terrific recorded sound.

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--Bruce

[MishaK]

Alessandrini is nice, but this is far and away my favorite.

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[bhodges]

Alessandrini is nice, but this is far and away my favorite.

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Ah, I'd love to hear this, since they basically brought Vivaldi back from the dead for me.

--Bruce

[MishaK]

Ah, I'd love to hear this, since they basically brought Vivaldi back from the dead for me.

They do exactly that with the Brandenburgs as well. Makes you want to leap out of your chair and dance - or whistle along full blast.

[Parsifal]

I love this one, with Rinaldo Alessandrini and Concerto Italiano: HIP, lean and very fast, with terrific recorded sound.

[asin]B000ALCFYI[/asin]

--Bruce

This is superb, I also like

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and it's companion disc.  Then there's this, mostly for the slow movements

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That's the 60's recording.  There's also an 80's recording which is a horror.

[HIPster]

Alessandrini is nice, but this is far and away my favorite.

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This is a splendid recommendation, however, for just a few dollars more, this 11 CD boxed set is the way to go imo:
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I also like the Allessandrini and have yet to hear the Fasolis, but I am pretty sure it is top-shelf. . .

Welcome to the forum, dave b!  You specifically ask for rec.'s from "old timers" here and well, I'm a "new timer" but I have a decent Bach Brandenburg collection (the work is my favorite and Bach is my favorite composer).

My first choice in Brandenburg's  is from the Berlin Academy of Ancient Music, available in it's latest iteration, under the HM Gold imprint:
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*Do search for earlier versions, released as two individual releases (Odds and Evens by disc), for possibly greater savings. . .

My next choice would be this one from Savall and Company:
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An elegant, Period Instrument version, with an all-star cast of performers.  A fine turn by Pierre Hantai in the harpsichord cadenza in the 5th Concerto is one of many highlights here.

Lastly, is this very comprehensive 6 CD set by Cafe Zimmermann.  I recently received this as a gift and it is incredible!  Highly recommended:
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[dave b]

Thanks for the welcome, and the info, HIPster, much appreciated...

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

My first choice in Brandenburg's  is from the Berlin Academy of Ancient Music, available in it's latest iteration, under the HM Gold imprint:

I haven't heard that many Brandenburg sets, but that's a great one. (Comparable IMHO to that vinyl-only Smithsonian set I just rediscovered.)

[DavidRoss]

I have a couple of different recordings of Brandenburg Concertos and would be interested in what others recommend. Thanks in advance. I especially value the opinions of the "old timers" here, although I am one myself in age only---but I am only a novice in the area of classical music, even though I have been listening for years. I find it an endless area of exploration.

Which recordings do you have and what do you like/dislike about them?  Several recommendations here have been first-rate, IMO. I've mostly loved HIPsters, last I knew I preferred Il Giardino Armonico to Savall, Alessandrini, and the Berlin Academy of Old Musick, and a couple of days ago I heard Abbado's recent outing and liked it very much.

I can hardly imagine anything more deadly to the joyful spirit of Bach than Herbie the K. This stuff should be light, lithe, lively, and limber!