Customer Reviews

Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos

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Sebastian Bach was a very virile, full-blooded man who worked all his life, had two wives, and sired about 20 children: a man of powerful energy and imagination.

Casals' realizations of Bach's music illustrate Bach's virility and vivacity. He conducts the Brandenburg Concerti as he plays the Bach solo Cello Suites: with vim, vigor, and vitality; with rhythm, color, and accent; with dash, esprit, and intellect. Above all, with insight and panache...
In short, these are the very best realizations of the Brandenburgs available--or will ever again be available.

In the rehearsals for these sessions Casals conducted on a dias while sitting with his cello on which from time to time he illustrated for the orchestra the tempi, accents, and inflections he wanted to capture for the realization. This is as real as it gets!

The soloists are wonderful. The recorded sound is bright and clear. The price is incredibly cheap. These are historical documents of rare Art. What are you waiting for?

Reissue of:
Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1-3; Orchestral Suite No. 1
Bach: The Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 4-6; Orchestral Suite No.4
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See too:
Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6
Bach: Cello Suites
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To affirm that Pablo Casals was the greatest musician of the XX Century may result for some a mere speculation or an emotive utterance, but under the light his personal achievements and his ceaseless effort for making of the music a true statement of principles, plus the materialization of a long dream, the Prades, Puerto Rico and Marlboro festivals seem to confirm it.

This is an invaluable musical legacy from his genius. These recordings are hovered by a sidereal approach, in which the radiant musicality and lyrical splendor remains bellow every one of these Concertos.

So, please don't let to pass these admirable recordings that are now part of a recent past.

Interpreted with a vitality that belies this remarkable octogenarian's age, the individual "voices" within the orchestra are heard with a clarity that suggests the listener is present at the performance. Impeccable musicianship under Casals's baton. The Marlboro Festival Orchestra is comprised of the finest artists of the time.Rhythmic drive and "expressive intonation" practices epitomize the artistry of Casals.