Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6

Pablo Casals (Performer), Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Blas Net (Performer), Nikolai Mednikoff (Performer)

Product Details

• Performer: Pablo Casals, Blas Net, Nikolai Mednikoff
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (September 26, 2000)
• SPARS Code: ADD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Naxos
• ASIN: B00004VXD2
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #68,695 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prelude

2. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Allemande

3. Suite No.1 In G Major, BWV 1007: Courante

4. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Sarabande

5. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Menuet I / Menuet II

6. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Gigue

7. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Prelude

8. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Allemande

9. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Courante

10. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Sarabande

See all 18 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Prelude

2. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Allemande

3. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Courante

4. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Sarabande

5. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gavotte I / Gavotte II

6. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gigue

7. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Prelude

8. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Allemande

9. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Courante

10. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Sarabande

See all 17 tracks on this disc

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com essential recording

For many of us, Pablo Casals's legendary interpretation of Bach's six cello suites--the 1930s recordings that showcased these works as far more than mere finger exercises for cellists--are still definitive. Casals rediscovered these previously appreciated compositions and did his damnedest to illustrate their importance. Hence, his bold, romantic interpretations, which may lack subtlety but certainly not substance or grace. With Naxos's new remastering from audio producer Ward Marston, this bargain-priced recording makes a vast improvement on EMI's more expensive version of these exact same recordings (and a subtle improvement over Pearl's even pricier remastering). Here, you can finally turn up the stereo and get the full sonic depth of these recordings without fatiguing your ears from a ton of surface noise. Instead, you simply get lost in Casals's flowing, passionate playing and impeccable tone. This has always been a landmark recording and it's never sounded better than this. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

53 of 56 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, but watch out for a mastering error, November 6, 2000

By	Bradley P. Lehman (Dayton, VA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

These are of course the classic 1936-39 recordings, essential. Here in Ward Marston's new transfers they sound better than ever, and Naxos' price is lower than anybody else's (not counting the pirates). And it's terrific to see all the recording dates and master numbers listed in the credits. So, five stars on all that.

But watch out for a CD mastering error, at least if you're getting an early copy. Specifically, listen to track 6 of disc 1. It is of course supposed to be movement 6 (gigue) of suite 1, but instead it is the first half (first 78 rpm side) of movement 1 from suite 6! Therefore this gigue is omitted from the set.

My copy is marked "MADE IN CANADA" and here are all the stamper numbers from disc 1: DIDX-075407 5 IFPI L324. And then closer to the hole there is 6706. I am writing to Naxos' contact address (in the USA) to ask if a corrected replacement is available from a different pressing run.

Also there's a typo in the credits: in the Air from the orchestral suite #3, the pianist "Otto Schulf" should be "Otto Schulhof."

p.s. Naxos cheerfully replaced the defective disc soon after I wrote to them with the complaint. The good new copy of that first disc is stamped 811AF000915 and 23B61.

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Which remastering...which remastering...?, May 12, 2001

By	John Grabowski (USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

I'm not even going to discuss the performances because I couldn't add anything that hasn't already been said, and I have a feeling by the time you read this you've already made up your mind about Casals and Bach anyway. The issue is with this new mastering: is it "better" and how much? The Amazon review says it is significantly better than the EMI. After listening twice with audiophile-grade headphones to both sets, I've concluded...it's probably a coin toss. All depends what you like. This new one is a bit quieter and more "recessed," but to my ears the EMI sounds a bit more vivid and has more presence. At times the EMI sound gets a bit "tubby" and "smeary," especially in the fast scalar passages. At the same time, the EMI better captures the burnished tone of Casal's cello. Pedal notes, not surprisingly, are also more dramatic on the EMI. The best analogy I can give is the Naxos makes me feel like I'm at a recital sitting in the twelfth row, whereas the EMI makes me feel like I'm next to Casals. It all depends on where you want to be. Honestly, since I can't decide, I'd recommend you get both masterings of these seminal works. Both sets are fairly inexpensive and the Naxos gives you some bonus music not found on the EMI. The liner notes on the Naxos are also better. So my recommendation is for both.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic!, December 20, 2000

By	Daryl Bullis (Albany, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

There is no doubt that this iteration of the Bach Cello suites is one of the finest on record. There really should be no fear of an "old" sound coming from your system when playing these; Ward Marston has done a superb job, as usual, in cleaning these up. Unless you are super sensitive to any sound other than the music coming through your speakers, you will thouroughly enjoy the sheer tonal quality produced by these wonderful HMV masters

As for the mastering error outlined below by another reviewer, I had no such problem. The number on my discs are: Disc 1 811AF000915 6709 and Disc 2 DIDX-072408 2 6711. I assume that they caught the error and it is now being released with the correct tracks.

Casals provides us with a very solid performance with plenty of personal energy and conviction. Some may prefer a more cerebral and flowing approach, but for pure passion, energy and rhythmic genius, this is the set you want. I am wholly pleased with this and I laud Naxos for making this one of the best purchases of the year for me. As the reviewer below states, these performances have never sounded better.