Customer Reviews

Bach: Complete Lute Suites

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I've read that Sharon Isbin studied for 10 years with the greatest Bach scholar and keyboard artist of our time, Rosalyn Tureck, with whom she created and published the editions recorded in this CD. It's no wonder her Bach performances are so remarkable! Their collaborative editions are based on original manuscripts from Bach's time and follow closely the tradition of Baroque performance practices, including the composer's own embellishments with elaboration in repeats, a component astonishingly and neglectfully omitted in other guitar recordings!

I can easily understand why this recording is rightfully acknowledged to be the landmark in the world of Bach performance on guitar. It reaches a depth and scholarship untouched by any previous guitar recording of Bach I've heard (and I've heard them all). I'd have to say Isbin's music bring Bach to life better than all the others. She portrays a brilliant synthesis of scholarship and heart, knowledge and expression, structure and nuance. This is the highest standard you'll hear.

In addition to the amazing and creative ornamentation, I was very struck by Isbin's beautiful phrasing, striking timbral and dynamic contrasts, clarity of lines...breathtaking virtuosity.

It is no surprise that this recording has received so many awards and is lauded in the world of Bach performance as a model. Once you hear Bach in the hands of Sharon Isbin, you'll never be satisfied by anything less.

So here's my humble opinion:

Run, don't walk, to get this one!

The best 'test' is to use your own ears and hear Isbin's playing. I'm sure J.S. himself would heartily agree - Isbin takes Bach into the realm of the ethereal, where he and she both belong.

This performance is unlike any other guitar rendition of the Bach Lute suites you will have heard before. Listening to the music you would be forgiven for thinking that you were back in the eighteenth century and listening to an original rendition by Bach himself. The most outstanding aspect of this recording is the performers interesting interpretation and implementation of ornamentation. I have had this recording for about 5 years - it is still my favourite and most often played cd.

First the disclaimers for my criticism:
1) Anyone capable of accurrately playing any arrangement all four of the Bach lute suites on guitar is an amazing musician.
2) This recording has an abundance of useful ideas regarding ornamentation for Bach, including some interesting techniques that were fairly uncommon at the time of this recording (those techniques are now standard practice). I also have the transcriptions for these performances and they are by far the most difficult to perform of any of the 3 editions I own.
3) Miss Isbin is an exciting player despite those who feel she is too mechanical. Listen to Journey to the Amazon, I think it's her best recording (despite some of the 'overdone' arrangements).

Now for the criticism:
This is the most laborious recording of the Lute Suites that I own (I own 6 versions). I listen to it at least a couple times a year, just hoping that maybe I'll hear something I didn't hear before... maybe it'll grow on me. The result is always the same.
This disc bores me. The sonics of this recording are VERY POOR. You can hear everything ok, but there is no sweetness or presence. I don't think her instrument sounds that great either. If you are a fellow guitar player, it's a useful CD to own, I can attest that I've learned a few things from it, but I just don't enjoy listening to it. She's just too excessive. The tempos are also questionable. Some of the movements that you would expect to be too slow are very fast and some, like the Allemande from BMV 996 are way too slow. If JS Bach wanted it to be played like a Sarabande, he would have labeled it that way.
It's like a gourmet dinner that looks beautiful in its preparation, but doesn't taste very good. I suggest the Goran Sollscher, John Williams (vol#1), Paul Galbraith, and Julian Bream (in that order) recordings before considering this account.

Sharon Isbin is one of the world's truly great classical guitarists. It pains me to give this recording only three stars. As always, she plays beautifully, with exquisite attention to clarity, tone, and dynamics. So what's the problem?
She's decided that all previous performances (and sheet music editions) of the lute suite are wrong, lacking sufficient ornamentation. She plays with far more ornamentation than any other guitarist, and frequently inserts extra individual notes, particularly when she plays the repeats of some dances. The result is far too busy for my ear.

John Williams's performances on Sony are far more successful, and cost less, to boot.

Although I have listened to many versions of Bach's Lute Suites, none have held my attention as critically as Sharon Isbin's work on this CD. To say that she has achieved artistic mastery is to minimize the beauty of her interpretation of the works. It is no wonder that critics praise her as one of the most preeminent guitarists of our time. I am fortunate to have this CD in my collection, especially when I have other classical music afficionados visiting. You too will be enthralled by this CD, which is complemented by Isbin's amazing "Baroque Favorites for Guitar". I recommend purchasing both together for true classical guitar bliss.

This is one of Sharon Isbin best CDs. I highly recommend this album to anyone wanting a true classical album with such style and grace as only Ms. Isbin can deliver. Excellent!

I rarely ever write reviews but this CD has always bugged me. It is consistently praised as being the best recording of the complete Bach lute suites. But there is one major problem......Sharon's tone on this CD is horrendous!!! Seriously, it sounds like shes plucking the strings with nails made of tin.

there are many superior recordings of the complete lute suites.....Paul Galbraith's recording is great.(plays with great warm tone and the ornaments aren't as exaggerated) Also Hopkinson Smith's recording (played on lute) is wonderful.

This is one of the guitar cd you got to have. I play this cd every night at bed time. The music is calm and pleasant. My entire family really enjoy and love this cd.

I agree with the first reviewer (mostly mozart). I grew up listening to the Red Seal recording of Suites 1 & 2 by Julian Bream, which are simply sublime, particularly the fugue in 2. Sadly, I think they are no longer available to buy. So when I heard this version, I was impressed with the undeniable ability of the player, but disappointed with the level of ornamentation, which seems quite superfluous in these pieces. The speed at which some pieces are taken, for example the Courante in 1, where Bream's version is much more stately, can also be disconcerting.