Bach: The Complete Orchestral Suites [Hybrid SACD] [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Martin Pearlman (Conductor), Boston Baroque (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Boston Baroque
• Conductor: Martin Pearlman
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (April 27, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Telarc
• ASIN: B0001XAJUM
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #168,032 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: Ouverture

2. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: Bourrée 1 & 2

3. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: Gavotte

4. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: Menuet 1 & 2

5. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: Réjouissance

6. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Ouverture

7. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Courante

8. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Gavotte 1 & 2

9. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Forlane

10. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Menuet 1 & 2

11. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Bourrée 1 & 2

12. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: Passepied 1 & 2

13. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Ouverture

14. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air

15. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Gavotte 1 & 2

16. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Bourrée

17. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Gigue

18. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Ouverture

19. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Rondeau

20. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: Sarabande

See all 24 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This is an incredible recording, July 30, 2004

By 

P. E. Scholl (TX United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach: The Complete Orchestral Suites [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

This is an incredible recording of Bach's Orchestral Suite. It was recorded in high-resolution Direct Stream Digital (DSD) format. The recording is crystal clear, the different tonalities of the various instruments are clearly heard and the sound stage is rock solid. The performance is one of the best I have listened to. Even though the Boston Baroque uses period instruments, none of the strident, edgy sound which period instruments usually produce is noticeable here. In other words, this is a lush recording that every lover of Bach's music simply must have!

About this Super Audio Compact Disc (SACD), it is what is called a `hybrid' disc, meaning it has two layers, a standard compact disc layer compatible with all compact disc players, and a high-definition layer recorded in DSD and playable only on a SACD player. The DSD layer has two copies of the same program, one in high-definition, two channel stereo for listening over headphones or on a standard stereo system, and a second, high-definition, multichannel copy for playing on a surround-sound system. Thus, you get a total of three separate copies of the same program, which one you listen to depends on the system you are playing it on.

This recording is also available on standard compact disc for about $4.00 less, but I recommend buying this SACD version. Even if you don't have a SACD player yet, you probably will own one in the near future since many new compact disc players and DVD players will play SACDs.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glorious, Fresh and Engaging, April 4, 2005

By 

JMB1014 "JMB1014" (USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach: The Complete Orchestral Suites [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

The Bach suites for orchestra never sounded so good. The moment I got this in the mail, I plopped it into my computer at work. Even with those small speakers, let alone on my stereo at home, the sound in this set is as glorious as the performance. Whether or not you have a super audio CD player, don't hesitate: I have both and this sounds so fine on an ordinary CD player it is worth the expense. The strings are lush, the flute silvery and crisp, yet rounded and not whistle-like, as Galway's can be. The effect is to clarify the sound almost to a dramatic extent. Pearlman is also thoughtful and talented. His period ensemble is strong and, as the other reviewer has noted, not subject to many of the infirmities that can plague ancient music recordings. It also is not mannered in the way some performances are; though there is a little latitude with tempi, some of which are a bit faster, others a little slower, it is not to the point that it is annoying or seems to have been done for its own sake. I admit, I did have a problem with the brisk tempi of portions of Suite No. 2, which seemed to overtax the flute: you can hear him take a breath and pause very briefly. My sister is a professional flautist, so growing up I became very familiar with how that sounds. It is a bit distracting. The suites are arranged on one CD, with Suite No. 4 first, then Nos. 1, 3 and 2. To those of us who may be accustomed to listening to these in a particular order, the rearrangment enhances the fresh quality of the recording. I have enjoyed the versions by Ristenpart with Maurice Andre on the trumpet and Roger Bourdin on the flute, and of Menuhin and the Bath Festival Orchestra (which comes with an excellent rendering of the Musical Offering), but with the foregoing reservations, this is my favorite: engaging and fresh Bach. I recommend it highly.

15 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ultimately unrewarding Bach, September 3, 2005

By 

A. Chapman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach: The Complete Orchestral Suites [Hybrid SACD] (Audio CD)

I disagree with the 5 star ratings given for this disc. Performances are generally rather rushed and all the overtures truncated. Playing is acceptable though I was not inspired by the flautist in Suite 2. The trouble is ultimately this disc is neither particularly exciting nor played with real feeling ( if Baroque music can be !). Perfunctory is one word which comes to mind. Chopping great lumps off the overtures might improve the balance of the suites given most other movements are short but that does not really work either.Of course that is how 4 suites get on one disc. I played Musica Antiqua Koln's versions after and these are clearly better considered and are my personal versions of choice. Vastly superior although on 2 discs.