Customer Reviews

Bach: Cello Suites Nos. 1-6

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I'm revising this review completely, because my answer has changed. I'd now recommend neither of these, having heard something far far better. The best remastering I've ever heard is on the Japanese label Opus Kura. The Opus Kura recording of the Cello Sonatas is not available on American Amazon, or in America much at all unless you maybe stumble onto it in a used shop. (Odds are about a million to one there.) But Amazon's UK site has this recording, for a very reasonable price and very fast and reasonable shipping from "across the pond." Highly highly recommended.

The Opus Kura has far less filtering, so that means you WILL get more hiss and crackle. But you also get so much more music, you never realized before how much Casals plays with rich color and subtle dynamic nuance, riding the scale effortlessly from ppppp to fffff (as much as you can on a cello) and back again. These aren't differences that you have to closely compare to hear. I played the first movment of No. 1 in this version and then the Opus Kura for my wife, who hardly has an audiophile's ear, and her response was "Those are BOTH the same recording???" The difference is so dramatic your tone-deaf great uncle could hear it.

True you have to put up with some less-than-optimal surfaces for this, but it's well worth it. You now understand his approach to the music better, and he sounds less stiff and "monochromatic." You'll hear the click of the bow and his fingers on the strings, that's how much sound is washed out by both the EMI and the Naxos versions. It's true that this Naxos set is the only one that also features some obscure Bach cello pieces from the late 20s in addition to the suites--neither the EMI nor the Opus Kura does. If you must have these other pieces, which fill the last quarter of the second disc, then by all means buy this set as a supplement, unless you can find those other pieces in better remasterings elsewhere. (I haven't bothered to look.) But if your primary interest is the suites, pass this recording by for the Opus Kura. And check out some of their other remasterings too. If only other companies were so conscientious! There's simply no comparison, not even close.

Below is the original review I wrote for this Naxos release back in 2001, but as I said, it's really no longer germane. Still, in the spirit of completeness, I'm leaving it.

* * *

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.

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.

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.

This is the greatest performance of the greatest pieces for cello ever written, by the greatest composer ever, played by the greatest cellist ever, and i'm definitely not the only one who believes this to be true. Pablo Casals was the first cellist to take these masterpieces by Bach truly seriously. Before Casals, these cello suites were nothing more than practice and study pieces. It took a cellist with the ability of Casals to elevate this music and expose it to the general public. These six cello suites are now considered to be some of the greatest pieces for solo instrument ever written. The sound of this particular recording is not great, considering it is from the thirties, however, Naxos does a better job with the remastering than any other recording company, and at a bargain price this 2-cd legendary recording is a must. After a minute the background noise is unnoticable because you are swept up by the marvelous playing. In either this Naxos incarnation or some other, this legendary recording is a MUST MUST MUST HAVE for any classical collection.

There are several different CD editions of these same classic recordings by Casals, but none are priced lower than this new set from Naxos. Not only do these two discs include all six suites for solo cello by Bach, but the second disc includes an extra half hour of assorted Bach cello transcriptions.

The original recordings, made in the mid 1930's, have alot of hiss. Its like hearing a cello in the rain, but this is the same no matter what CD you buy. Its just the limits of the source material. You might as well go as cheap as you can.

The background hiss can be annoying on your living room stereo, but when played in the car, or on a walkman, or on a desktop computer, it is not nearly as noticeable.

Casals has been called a romantic in his approach to Bach. This is certainly a darker approach to the Bach Suites than, say, Yo Yo Ma.

In response to the review below, let me remind you:

1.) Casals has been dead for thirty years. So no need to go to Florida for him.

2.) The suites were written for "Unaccompanied Cello."

I have always been in awe of Glenn Gould's ability to express the heart and soul of Bach, (and God, of course), in his Bach piano works. Similarly, I believe that Casals has achieved that very same incredible, monumental quality. While some reviewers refer to this as a "romantic" element in Casals, I find that "passionate", might just as easily suffice. A great restoration of '30s recordings, and real steal at the Naxos price.

What's not to love? Naxos Historical has done a fantastic job of releasing historical remastered recordings--the Casals-Bach reissue is no exception!

You have Casals' seminal performances of these works on a recording expertly remastered by Ward Marston--all at an incredible price!

Also, be sure to check out Naxos Historical's Complete Caruso recordings!

Casals' recording is, at least arguably, the gold standard for a performance of these pieces, and the one I personally enjoy the most. I thought I'd add another review just to comment on how Naxos' remastering compared to what used to be the version acknowledged as best, the analogue-remastered German Da Capo pressing.

The differences are distinct, but which one prefers will be a matter of taste. Naxos has a lot more noise. Both recordings are fairly free of rice crispies, but the Naxos has a significantly greater amount of groove hiss and swish.

The obvious trade off is that the Naxos has a bigger and more reverbant cello sound than the Da Capo. The Naxos has more highs and overtones and the instrument sounds richer, which advances the recording about a decade toward the present in fidelity. Of course this is relative, it still does not sound like a modern recording -- you are getting improved sound but not beautiful modern sound in exchange for suffering the noise. The Da Capo has a smaller and thinner sound, but it was not grating or unmusical like when sound is digitally overprocessed, just, I guess, more "narrow" and distant if that makes sense.

After listening to the Da Capo many times in the past, and the Naxos about four over the last two weeks, I've decided that I prefer the older pressing, although I could certainly live with the Naxos.

Quite frankly, I think in general the quality of the Naxos historicals is a bit over-hyped. They are indeed very satisfactory (although not without exception), and the prices are great, but in many cases one shouldn't feel compelled to "upgrade" if they already own copies of the performances.

A zillion stars for performance. Minus a star because this is not a dramatically superior reissue to what we've had available for many decades.

While I do not especially care for many of his interpretations (Starker's middle-1960s recordings in the Mercury "Living Presence" series are my preference), Casals resurrected these suites for the listening public--not to mention five successive generations of cellists--just over a century ago.

The recordings presented are from the late 1930s (!) and are remarkable in the astounding quality of the restoration.