Customer Reviews

Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg Concertos

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Brandenburg Concertos are pieces that engross a music-lover forever. What attracts me in this version is its focus on the conversational and relational character of the music. It gives the performance a gripping emotional and erotic charge. The pieces require virtuosic playing, but virtuosity is the medium here, not the goal. These are in a way disciplined performances; the musicians do not get carried away by their abilities. It is a group of people conversing through music, and they do so with eloquence and elegance. Theirs is not a light or bubbly chat, but neither is it ever scripted or turgid. It is a thoughtful, intimate conversation among and for music-lovers; partaking in it makes for an absorbing experience.

The two DVD set also includes several smaller pieces as well as a series of interviews with Harnoncourt about the Brandenburg Concertos. The interviews are quite simply among the most intelligent and pleasurable `bonuses' I have encountered. Here too, the point is not just to add some nice pictures for fans to ogle at--as bonus features often tend to be--it is rather to explore a work of art for an interested audience. A rare treat!