Bach: Piano Concertos nos 1, 4-5/Gould, Bernstein

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Leonard Bernstein (Conductor), Vladimir Golschmann (Conductor), Columbia Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Orchestra: Columbia Symphony Orchestra
• Conductor: Leonard Bernstein, Vladimir Golschmann
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000025U5
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #117,484 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely Astounding!, November 4, 1999

By 

Nelson R. Willis "Rob Willis" (Pittsburgh, PA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: Piano Concertos nos 1, 4-5/Gould, Bernstein (Audio CD)

This is some of the best music I've ever heard both in terms of the writing and the performance. I think J.S. Bach wrote some of the best music ever, and these are among his best pieces. I especially love the D-minor concerto; the slow middle movement is very beautiful, but it's the quick first and third/final movements which really excite me and blow my mind. It makes you wonder how something can be so clever in terms of musical structures (rhythms, harmonies, melodies, and counterpoint) and still come out sounding so darn good, natural, emotional, beautiful, etc. I mean it's not always easy to have a whole bunch of melodic lines sound that good independently of eachother and come together to form a perfect harmonic union. I know; I've tried.

I've heard at least one other performance of these concerti which were also excellent. At least one that I've heard featured the harpsichord instead of the modern grand piano. The orchestra may also have been using original period instruments. So it was closer to the way Bach would have performed it. It was just as good as this, but different. I can't speak for the maestro, but I'd like to think that Mr. Bach would have liked this performance, too.

On this performance, Glenn Gould sounds so good on the modern grand piano that it has to be heard to be believed. It's just perfect! He expresses so much emotion, fire, and drama without sacrificing one iota of precision. He's performing along with world-class conductors and orchestra musicians who sound as good as he does. I think this really belongs in your music collection!

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant performance, January 22, 2000

By 

Icon80 (Providence) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Piano Concertos nos 1, 4-5/Gould, Bernstein (Audio CD)

I bought this cd only for the Concerto in D Minor. I fell in love with this concerto years ago. The first and third movements are some of the most thriling works of music I have ever heard. I always wondered if old master Bach wote this piece to show off a bit! I have a small collection of recordings of this piece. Gould's is the best in terms of performance. His execution is remarkable. However, I must admit that the recording is terrible. And for that I can only give this recording three stars. Hopefully, someone will remaster it and release a proper version.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars miraculous, February 20, 2001

By 

Alejandra Vernon "artist & illustrator" (Long Beach, California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)    (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Bach: Piano Concertos nos 1, 4-5/Gould, Bernstein (Audio CD)

This recording of concerto # 1 simply blazes with passion and energy. Between the power and beauty of Gould's performance, and the magic of Bernstein's conducting, this is one of the best CD's you can have in a Bach collection. # 4 and # 5 are also spectacular, but it's # 1 that will win your heart and soul.

I had the privilege as a teenager to hear Glenn Gould in concert, an experience not to be forgotten. With his low, custom made stool, and thick white sweater under his suit, he produced a sound out of the piano I had never heard before, or have heard since.

Recorded in the late '50's, it's in mono and has not been remastered. By today's standards the sound is poor...but there are many great things that transcend modern technology (a Valentino film, a Björling aria, Gardel !) and this performance belongs somewhere at the top of the list.