Bach Orchestral Works
View record and artist detailsRecord and Artist Details
Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach
Label: Digital Experience
Magazine Review Date: 9/1992
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 73
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 9031-75858-2

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 1 in F, BWV1046 (vn picc, obs, hns, bns & stgs |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 2 in F, BWV1047 (rec/fl, ob, tpt, vn & stgs: 1 |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 4 in G, BWV1049 (vn, 2 recs/fls & stgs cf Hpd057) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(4) Orchestral Suites, Movement: No. 2 in B minor, BWV1067 (flute & strings) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach
Label: Digital Experience
Magazine Review Date: 9/1992
Media Format: CD or Download
Media Runtime: 75
Mastering:
DDD
Catalogue Number: 9031-75859-2

Tracks:
Composition | Artist Credit |
---|---|
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 6 in B flat, BWV1051 (vas, vcs & db: 1708-10) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 3 in G, BWV1048 (stgs: 1711-13) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(6) Brandenburg Concertos, Movement: No. 5 in D, BWV1050 (hpd, vn, fl & stgs: 1720-21) |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
(4) Orchestral Suites, Movement: No. 3 in D, BWV1068 (2 oboes, 3 trumpets, strings |
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Conductor Vienna Concentus Musicus |
Author: Nicholas Anderson
Where this set perhaps scores over the older one is in respect of the brass and woodwind playing. Great advances were made between the 1960s and the 1980s in rediscovering and developing techniques required to bring period horns, trumpets, oboes and flutes to life in a convincing way. But what is gained in this quarter is perhaps diminished by what seems to my ears to be too self-conscious mannerisms in projecting points of style. Too many gestures are exaggerated, even at times misplaced, though I must emphasize that the playing at its best is very good indeed. Such is the case with Alice Harnoncourt's solo violin playing in the Fourth Concerto of the set which, both from a technical and an interpretative viewpoint, is an outstanding feature of the set as a whole. Having commented favourably on the sound, however, I do question the merit of the balance in this concerto which favours the two concertante recorders at the expense of the violin. A similarly distorted view of Bach's textures occurs in sections of the first movement of the Fifth Concerto where the solo harpsichord has to contend with ripieno strands being given more prominence than is justified. The two string concertos (Nos. 3 and 6) come over well, but in the Sixth Concerto I found myself longing for the more spontaneous, and effortlessly articulated version which may well be considered the crowning glory of the earlier set. Indeed, for me that performance remains unrivalled.
In summary, there is much to enjoy in this re-release and nothing that is remotely dull. The level of execution is consistently high and the recorded sound all that one could wish for. Well worth becoming acquainted with.'
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