Customer Reviews

Bach: The Masterworks [Box Set]

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

 

 

Since Amazon doesn't list the tracks or works represented, I thought I'd be helpful in giving a brief low-down on this set - notable performances are by Pieter-Jan Belder, Bob van Asperen, Ton Koopman, Robert Cohen, and the Cleobury Passions:

40 CD Box Set, containing works by Johann Sebastian Bach:
(If I can find the time, I may update this review with a more complete rundown)


The Brandenburg Concerti ;
The Orchestral Suites [Consort of London/ Clark];
Oboe Concerti, BWV 1055 & 1060;
Violin Concerti, BWV 1041-1044, 1052 & 1056; [Verhey et al. Amsterdam Bach Soloists];
The Well-Tempered Clavier [Leon Berben, harpsichord];
Italian Concerto; Overture, BWV 831; Goldberg Variations; Chromatic Fantasy & Fugue; The 6 Partitas [Pieter-Jan Belder, harpsichord];
Keyboard Suites, BWV 806-811 [Bob van Asperen, harpsichord];
Assorted Organ Works [Ton Koopman];
The Violin Partitas & Sonatas [Mark Lubotsky];
The Cello Suites [Robert Cohen];
A Musical Offering;
Asstd. Chamber Works;
The 6 Sonatas for Violin & Harpsichord [Santos & Belder];
Motets, BWV 226-230 [cond. Corboz];
St. John Passion;
St. Matthew Passion [Emma Kirkby, Michael Chance et al. Choir of King's College, Cambridge cond. Cleobury];
Easter Oratorio [cond. Schweizer];
Assorted Cantatas. (cond. Pieter Jan Leusink)

In the Brandenburg Concerti, the tempo varies, trumpet volleys sound like French Horns, and the flute is off tune half the time. The harpsichordist was good but in one of the concerti, decided to enter at a different tempo than had been set by the rest of the orchestra. Since he had to play some very fast runs later, it is no surprise that he wanted to slow down the orchestra, but maybe they should have worked it out earlier. The orchestra sounds leaderless and out of sync at times. Can't find the groove. Violins are competent but playing with an orchestra that needs to practise what they are going to play a little more.

That covers the first 2 of 40 CDs. Don't know if I can bring myself to listen to the rest. Somebody who didn't know Bach would wonder what the attraction is after listening to this.

The one star review is silly. This is mostly stuff from the big collected works box that gets 4 to 5 star ratings from most. So ignore the one star.