For almost a quarter of a century Menuhin's recording of Bach's three most popular violin concertos has been a staple of the catalogue at full price, and even now I feel tempted to count it the best recommendation, certainly so if price is any consideration with its immediate re-appearance on the budget Concert Classics label. Particularly after my disappointment with Perlman's latest recordings of Bach concertos also for HMV (see above), it has been a joy to hear Menuhin again on what stands as one of his very finest recordings. My comparisons have been with the older Perlman and Zukerman (in the E major and Double Concerto) also on HMV (ASD2783, 12/72) and with Mutter and Accardo (ASD143520-1, 9/83). Though the performances on all three LPs are among the finest of those taking a broadly Romantic view of Bach, the quality which stands out consistently from Menuhin's readings is an extra elegance. For all his sweetness of tone and ability to nudge a phrase with total individuality, he never oversteps the mark with weight of vibrato, adopting a generally lighter manner. The sound on the new transfer is amazingly fine, excellently balanced in a natural, free acoustic. I wish the transfer engineers had put scrolls between the movements, and had followed the Mutter layout with the E major on one side and the two other concertos on the reverse. As it is, the slow movement of the Double Concerto comes unbanded right at the end of Side 1.'