Bach: Piano Concertos

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

...If I was ever asked to select my "desert island discs", top of my list would be Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (I wonder if there's a category in the ciao café?. . . ) The six Brandenburg concertos, each with their distinct quality and sound requiring a different combination of instruments, are not only a delight to listen to but exemplify the intellectual musical genius of their composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. All six are composed in major keys creating and maintaining a cheerful, vivacious collection. The modulations of key demanded by the baroque conventions are skilfully completed and Bach's predilection for numbers and ornate touches are evident. I could say more but this isn't a musical analysis . . . I am not alone in my high estimation, The Brandenburg concertos are now probably the best loved and most frequently performed... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: J. S. Bach; all musicians and vocalists; Karajan.
Disadvantages: Karajan's big, ponderous sound and historical inauthenticity, for some.

...like huge raindrops high above the stage. A massive pipe organ stands to one side. I do wonder how good the acoustics of the place is. (Alas, bad timing robbed us of the chance to attend a concert here during our visit to Berlin last September, and we had to be content with surveying the distinctive circus tent-like buildings in the complex from the outside.) VIOLIN CONCERTO IN E MAJOR, BWV 1042 The E Minor Violin Concerto holds a special niche in my musical heart, having been one of the early pieces that introduced me to the magic and mystery of J. S. Bach when I was just entering my teens. The work has yet to grow old for this listener. Mr Karajan here throws the entire weight of the modern symphony orchestra wholly at the service of the piece, producing a huge, all-encompassing sound that might seem foreign to the composer... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Romantic orchestral music
Disadvantages: Only 1 hour - eat quickly for a romantic dinner

...Johann Sebastian Bach, giant among Baroque composers, was a prolific writer whose versatility and creativity resulted in a wealth of musical works with a diversity ranging from sacred choral works, keyboard music to orchestra music. The CD, Concerto for Two Violins in D minor / Violin Concertos in A minor & E minor, is an orchestral recording conducted by Salvatore Accardo, in which two violins (Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvatore Accardo) / solo violin (Anne-Sophie Mutter) are contrasted with a larger orchestra (English Chamber Orchestra) of strings and bass continuo instrument the harpsichord. Bach is often criticized for his strict attention to form. Whilst, I greatly admire Bach for his intellectual and methodical approach to composition, what I enjoy most is the harmonious and melodic music that results. This CD is a superb... Read review

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