Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Karl Münchinger (Conductor), Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra (Orchestra), Stuttgarter Kammerorchester (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra, Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
• Conductor: Karl Münchinger
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Decca
• ASIN: B000050GK0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #78,692 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #31 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Fugues
  • #50 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Improvisation

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

65 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, November 20, 2005

By 

Michael Cammer (NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering (Audio CD)

Of the five CDs of J.S. Bach's The Art Of The Fugue recently acquired, The Stuttgarter Kammerorchester version is by far the most outstanding. The performance is precise. The two disks are awesome listened to in one sitting. Actually, over and over.

Of the other four sampled, Neville Marriner's version (ASIN B0000041A6) is the weakest. It is good, but lacks the precision and spark of Karl Munchinger's direction. I tend to find Marriner's direction "creamy"; perfect for a piece like Beethoven's Eroica symphony, but not right for this Bach. Also, the mixture of different instruments from piece to piece breaks up the continuity.

The Canadian Brass version (ASIN B0000026NK) is excellent but is difficult to listen to in one sitting unless you love brass. If you want a masterfully conceived and executed version of The Art Of Fugue for your collection or if you really enjoy listening to an hour straight of nothing but brass, this is the CD for you.

The Hans Fagius all organ version (ASIN B00004YYRV) is also excellent, but I personally tend to find the all organ program a bit hard to take in one sitting. Of course, this far more likely historically accurate to Bach's time than the all brass version.

Other reviewers have extolled the Emerson Quartet version of the Fugues (ASIN B00008O8B3). It's really good, but not as good as this one. It's not as precise and rigid. I like the crisp, controlled almost machine produced sound of the Munchinger version.

The Karl Munchinger version is the best for both an introduction to Bach's late Fugues (and other pieces) and for a sublime listening experience. This is one of the best "classical" CDs I have ever heard.

52 of 55 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unashamedly Romantic Bach-playing, July 11, 2001

By 

michael newman (Long Beach, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering (Audio CD)

This is one of the most beautiful versions of the Art of Fugue I have ever heard -- rich, colorful, and extremely musical. This is a must for anyone who wants to hear a full-blooded non-"period" performance.

69 of 76 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars if I could give it more stars I would, March 28, 2003

By 

I X Key "burningfield" (tomorrow) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: The Art of Fugue; Musical Offering (Audio CD)

I have tons of different recordings of The Art of Fugue, & this one of them all is absolutely my favorite. Each melodic line is very distinct. This is also the best recording of Musical Offering I know. Please get this cd. I think this might in fact be some of the very best recorded Bach available if you ask me. I'm not kidding. It's very heady & more soulful/emotional than you're likely to find in many other interpretations of his music, & without straying from what I think Bach had in mind with his music. Yes, this is what he intended.