Notes and Editorial Reviews
BACH
Orchestral Suites
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Freiburg Baroque O
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HMC 902113-14 (2 CDs: 93: 42)
I was recently amused to read a review that mentioned the “ancient” recordings of the Bach suites conducted by Neville Marriner. Like most of us who have heard them, I have enjoyed that readily available recording for decades, but I’ve spent even more time with the recording conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, which is older still. Of course neither of those vibrant renditions, beautifully played though they are, is performed on period
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instruments. Since then, we have had fine recordings by Martin Pearlman and his Boston Baroque, and we Bostonians have been able to hear these pieces live as well. Still, I can’t recommend highly enough the exquisitely recorded, detailed and energetic recordings by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. The suites appear on two discs, and include the repeats omitted by those who present them on one. More importantly, the playing is also exquisite, and the orchestra easily conveys the music’s varying styles, the slight pomp of the overture to the Suite in D Major, for instance, where the trumpets play majestically over rolls by the timpani. I am impressed by what I’ll call the lack of excess in those moments; the trumpets punctuate but don’t overwhelm the strings. The tempos are brisk, but not rushed. The more tender movements for the reeds are equally satisfying. I give the prize for the balance, detail, and clarity of recording to this new collection, even over Pearlman’s.
FANFARE: Michael Ullman
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Works on This Recording
1.
Suite for Orchestra no 4 in D major, BWV 1069 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1729-1731; Leipzig, Germany
2.
Suite for Orchestra no 3 in D major, BWV 1068 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1729-1731; Leipzig, Germany
3.
Suite for Orchestra no 2 in B minor, BWV 1067 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: 1738-1739; Leipzig, Germany
4.
Suite for Orchestra no 1 in C major, BWV 1066 by Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra/Ensemble:
Freiburg Baroque Orchestra
Period: Baroque
Written: circa 1717-1723; Cöthen, Germany
Featured Sound Samples
Orchestral Suite no 4: I. Ouverture
Customer Reviews
Average Customer Review: 
( 1 Customer Review )
Delightful February 1, 2013
By Brian Leatherman (Centennial, CO) See All My Reviews
"I have to admit that it had been sometime since listening to any of my recordings of the suites. I was struck by the newness and freshness of these performances. The generous inclusion of all repeats certainly must contribute to that feeling. They just sound right. No affectation, just style and grace. I want to go back and listen to Marriner, Leppard and Perlman (Boston Baroque); but I have a feeling that these are my new benchmark."
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