Bach Métamorphoses: Stokowski, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Talmi, Webern, Respighi

Leopold Stokowski (Composer), William [composer] Walton (Composer), Gustav Holst (Composer), Edward Elgar (Composer), Yoav Talmi (Composer), Anton Webern (Composer), Ottorino Respighi (Composer), Yoav Talmi (Conductor), Alexander Weimann (Performer), Orchestre Symphonique de Québec (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Alexander Weimann
• Orchestra: Orchestre Symphonique de Québec
• Conductor: Yoav Talmi
• Composer: Leopold Stokowski, William [composer] Walton, Gustav Holst, Edward Elgar, Yoav Talmi, et al.
• Audio CD (September 30, 2008)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atma Classique
• ASIN: B001DELXD0
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #460,620 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Many Colors of Bach for Orchestra, October 2, 2008

By 

J Scott Morrison (Middlebury VT, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bach Métamorphoses: Stokowski, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Talmi, Webern, Respighi (Audio CD)

I admit it. I'm a pushover for Bach transcriptions. He is certainly our most transcribed composer, and with good reason; his works tend to sound wonderful no matter what container they are poured into. (Purists will disagree, but they also probably aren't reading this review.) Yoav Talmi, the talented Israeli conductor who has been the conductor of this CD's orchestra, Orchestre symphonique de Québec, since 1998, has put together a satisfying collection of Bach orchestral transcriptions by such disparate composers as Webern, Elgar, Holst, Stokowski, Respighi, Walton and Talmi himself. Each composer brings his own view to the project, from the plummy depths of Elgar's rich take on the Fantasy and Fugue in C Minor, BWV 537, to Respighi's many-hued orchestration of the big C Minor Passacaglia and Fugue, BWV 582, to Webern's chamber-sized orchestration of the Ricercata from 'The Musical Offering', BWV 1079, to Holst's fairy-light orchestration of the Jig Fugue in G, BWV 537. Of course, there is Stokowski's famous orchestration of the Toccata and Fugue in D Minor, BWV 565, played here with great clarity and élan. There is Talmi's skillful transcription for harpsichord and orchestra of the Italian Concerto, BWV 971 (with Alexander Weimann at the keyboard). I had not realized that Talmi was a composer, but this transcription suggests that he has real talent.

And finally, there is The Wise Virgins, the always welcome ballet suite -- gasp! a ballet from Bach music? -- arranged by William Walton. It contains bits from the cantatas: 'Was Gott tut ist wohlgetan', 'Herzlich tut mich verlangenen', the tenor aria 'Seht was die Liebe tut' from BWV 85, the chorale from 'Gelobet sei der Herr, mein Gott' BWV 129, and most famously, 'Sheep may safely graze' from BWV 208 (the latter with sensitive playing from the orchestra's principal winds).

All is played by the Quebec Symphony with marvelous feeling for the various styles involved and the sound is especially spacious and lifelike. This merits an easy recommendation.

Scott Morrison

5.0 out of 5 stars Globally enjoyable, January 13, 2012

By 

Jean-François Turmel - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach Métamorphoses: Stokowski, Walton, Holst, Elgar, Talmi, Webern, Respighi (Audio CD)

A romantic interpretation of the transcribed music of Bach for orchestra, give impressions of what Bach could have produced if he had lived during the romatic period with the symphonic orchestra, interpretations from a man reckoned for his romantic interpretations, Yoav Talmi, and from Québec Symphonic Orchestra. The most popular transcribed music for orchestra of Bach from a diversity is found on the recording, rendering the recording appealing for those who are seeking this music. From the complex ample orchestral sound of the toccata and fugue to the passacaglia through the resting and up-lifting cantates for orchestra and the joyful italian concerto for hapsichord and orchestra, globally enjoyable.