Customer Reviews

Bach: Harpsichord Concertos 1

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I am an amateur keyboardist and this is my humble opinion of this CD.
As a Baroque keyboard geek I can say that this is, if not, the most wonderful version that I have heard of these Bach Harpsichord Concertos. This is the first Orchestra that I have heard that has played the appoggiaturas in the second movement of the first concerto in D minor as written in the autographed score of Bach. The added ornamenation that is done by Robert Hill is very tasteful and makes this concerto extremely exciting. I would love to have Harpsichord lessons from him. I point out Robert Hill but all of the soloists are gifted performers. The Orchestra takes some chances with the tempos and play some movements quite quickly. I prefer them this way. They feel and sound better. Their (the Orchestra) playing is wonderfully soothing in the slow movements and dance-like and electrifying in the faster tempos. I cannot wait to listen to the others. Bravo!!!

The Naxos edition of Bach's Orchestral Works is superb. My particular favorite is this volume of the Harpsichord Concerti which features original instrument versions of works Glenn Gould recorded in the 1960's on piano. There is a marvelous airy quality to the sound. Most of the tempi here are very fast, at least as rapid as Gould took them, and sometimes slightly faster. This is not the slow, stately chamber music approach, its more like Baroque night at the Hop! Played at these tempi, these concerti really have a dance music feel.

I have been looking for a harpsichord version of BWV 1056 for quite a while before I came across this modest, budget release. The price may be low, but the performances are excellent, lively and fresh sounding, with very interesting ornamentations. The sound quality, sometimes an issue with Naxos CDs, is just as good. At this price, this particular album, along with Volume II of the same collection, are highly recommended CDs for anyone interested in Bach keyboard works, or just great Baroque music.

This CD is marvellous! The sound, the performance, the conducting... everything is absolutely perfect! I've heard other five CDs which contain the same harpsichord concertos and I can assure that this is undoubtedly the best! An it's the cheaper too! This Naxos collection of the complete Bach's orchestral works are outstanding!

This is THE BEST cds made by Naxos! I jave listened to this disc about 5 TIMES!!! My favorite is the Concerto in d-minor. I love the tempi. The first mvt. has a special character to it, almost dance like. It is also found as the Instrumentatz to Cantata 146. Movement two is rather sorrowfull, almost depicting Christ's agonizing march to the crucifix. The grace notes depict the stumbles Christ made. Finally mvt.3 expresses joy in a minor mode (I couldn't think of a religous plot to accompany it.) The rest of the Concertos are quite interesting and fun to listen to. Another favorite is the second mvt. to 1056 in f-minor. It is taken from (vise versa) Cantata 156. The Harpsichordists do a wonderful job.