Bach: Six Cello Suites -
There are many ways of playing Bach--the austere and the mathematical or the deliberately
... more
simple have dominated in recent years--in an attempt to recapture the style of the unknown soloist for whom he wrote these peculiarly beautiful works. Mischa Maisky's second recording, based on years of study of the scores, opts for a more passionate, almost romantic approach--this is a Bach all about expression and dance and the gestures here are big gestures. Maisky's commitment to his reading is absolute and carries real conviction--he plays the suites as the work of a musician of incomparable gifts, not a machine or a demigod. Even those who prefer a more intellectualised Bach will have to accept his earthy approach as a possible reading. Maisky's edition of the suites is included on a CD-ROM along with articles on artist, composer and works and a facility which allows the listener to follow the scores as they are played, or even play along... --Roz Kaveney
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 Bachcellosuites 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....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: The score material is as stunning as ever and is worthy listening Disadvantages: Fly Me to the Moon again and again and again and...
...). They are much more tolerateable than the song arrangements and actually are worth a listen.
The only piece of really romantic underscore is served in "Three of Me, One of Someone Else," which is another cue I really have no idea where it belongs to. It's a nice and calm piano melody that stands out on this album for its more easy melodic appeal, being somewhat similar to Ritsuko's theme. Classical music also plays a large part in the latter half episodes with sizeable chunks from Händel's Messiah and Beethoven's Ninth Symphony being performed without pause in Episodes 21 and 24. However, there was also a small piece of classical music Shinji performed on his cello earlier in the series, which can be heard in "Childhood Memories, Shut Away", the snippet being a 30 second excerpt from J.S. Bach's Prelude from the First CelloSuite, very nice indeed...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average 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 Bachcellosuites 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....
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
...I sallute to Bach.
Bach can be very romantic, calm or even agitated (sometimes agressive) in his compositions. I like most of his composition especially his piano work. In his fourty eight Preludes and Fugues, if you played them all, you can experience a mixture of emotions that he has implanted in this particular set of work. I like to play Bach's Preludes and Fugues when I feel very down, very angry even when I am very happy. I will definitely find a piece that suit my emotion and mood, and feel much more better after playing them. Some of my...
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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 CelloSuite No.2 BWV 1008)
5 Gigue (from CelloSuite No.2 BWV 1008)
6 Aria...
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