Bach: Cello Suites Nos 1 - 3, transcribed for Horn

Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...Balsom has already had her US debut, performing just this January 2006 with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra (Milwaukee? Not New York City and Carnegie Hall? How did they get to be so lucky in Wisconsin! Methinks Ms Balsom needs a better agent/promoter, no?!). FINAL VERDICT: I give this disc an unqualified, insanely enthusiastic recommendation with all thumbs and great toes up, for all lovers of Bach and/or the trumpet. Total, absolute must-have recording. [For more complete background info on Alison Balsom, please scroll down the page to the BBC Radio 3 article.] CD DETAILS: BACH: WORKS FOR TRUMPET Alison Balsom EMI Classics 5 58047 2 (CD) / 5 58047 5 Concerto in D Major (after Vivaldi) BWV 972: 1 Allegro 2 Adagio 3 Allegro Assai 4 Sarabande (from Cello Suite No.2 BWV 1008) 5 Gigue (from Cello Suite No.2 BWV 1008) 6 Aria... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: to add great music in to your collection
Disadvantages: None

...Steven Isserlis is an outstanding cellist. When you listen his playing alive, which I did, you can see how he captures you with his playing. I am a professional viola player for twenty years. I have listened many recordings of Bach cello suites from Rostropovich to Peter Bruns. Isserlis plays the suits in a way that you can find something different in his interpretation. Specially the 6th suit. That suit is very difficult to play actually. You should listen and hear it yourself how it flows. I have to also add the price is actually not that expensive. Because you are going to have the six suits which are usually come in two cds and plus interesting piece again by Bach , Cant del Ocells, ( Song of the Birds'). I highly recommend the cd who are interested in solo cello music, Bach or classical music.... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion.
Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.

..., in the main, followed these conventions in his Brandenburg concertos but varied the instrumental arrangements to produce six dazzling and unique compositions. The first concerto has four movements instead of the usual three. However, the additional fourth movement, a stylish dance movement - a minuet, is often omitted from many recordings - not so in Menuhin's, the work remains just as it did when Bach presented his gift. The opening movement has a contagious sense of fun with rousing hunting horn calls carrying anyone and everyone along for the ride. Deep, sonorous bassoons create a wonderful rustic quality (rather than the pretty pastoral quality of many musical works depicting the countryside). The minuet rounding up the concerto creates an overall feeling of dazzling sophistication - how could anyone leave it out!! The second concerto... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful