Classical Music Forum banner

Your Bach Cello Suites recordings

143K views 462 replies 107 participants last post by  charles815553 
#1 · (Edited)
I have Amazon Prime and a number of recordings of Bach's Cello Suites are on there. I also have a CD set by Maurice Gendron and a set by Rostropovich. Rostropovich to me plays with a lot of command and strength, excellently. The others all have their excellencies also.

The Gendron set is by far my favorite. There is something about the feeling and sheer beauty he puts into it that rings right with me. And the quality of the recordings is fantastic.

Musical instrument Guitar Font String instrument Output device


The Cello Suites are my go to music when I am writing. It is perfect for me.

Which recording (s) do you have and enjoy the most?
 
See less See more
1
#94 ·
Can't stop myself. Picked up the Yo-Yo Ma, Inspired by Bach set for a few bucks. Which is his set I prefer.

I do a lot of driving for work and will stop at a goodwill or thrift shop if I can. There are always cds. I've made some good purchases.
 
#108 ·
I haven't listened to all 150 ;), and of the probably dozen-or-so that I do know, I wouldn't know which one to pick really. But I do know that I like Schiff very much, and Zeuthen, both of Bylsma's recordings, and Badiarov on viola pomposa cq violoncello da spalla, all of them for various reasons which are not that easy to describe. Schiff makes me want to dance, either a quick dance or a slow one, and I like to shake my booty once in a while, so there you go.
:D
 
#110 ·
Honestly, you could practically close your eyes and pick one. The issues I have with any one recording are minor. I purchased Gendron after listening to a few dozen on the free spotify trial. It seemed to sound right to me. Fournier and Ma I purchased because the price was right and I was in the right place. I liked them enough to spend $4 or $5. Queyras was a free download for me or I probably wouldn't have it. I've purchased others and given them away. Most likely I'll keep doing that. But I'll keep the Gendron set.
 
#116 ·
As I said in Post #88, I found Casals to be a bit dry and uninspired. But then again, I used to find Bach and Mahler's music dry and uninspired also- so perhaps Casals will grow on me.
 
#120 · (Edited)
If you want a good but cheap download try this one. $5.99 on Amazon or Google Play. I don't know what's up with this recording. There are no reviews to be found. The user reviews on Amazon are for another artist. All i could find out is that its a 2009 release. I think it is good playing all around. I haven't purchased it, but i am enjoying it on the spotify. Cellist is Klaus-Peter Hahn. (Another fake credit guy?)
Sculpture Orange Statue Happy Art
 
#121 · (Edited)
If you want a good but cheap download try this one. $5.99 on Amazon or Google Play. I don't know what's up with this recording. There are no reviews to be found. The user reviews on Amazon are for another artist. All i could find out is that its a 2009 release. I think it is good playing all around. I haven't purchased it, but i am enjoying it on the spotify. Cellist is Klaus-Peter Hahn. (Another fake credit guy?)
View attachment 94733
Klaus-Peter Hahn (1944-2003) was a real existing cellist and conductor.
Among others he was for some time a member of the Stuttgarter Klaviertrio.
 
#122 · (Edited)
I own two sets, Henri Honegger of LP and Lynn Harrell on CD. While I enjoy both, Harrell is my hands-down favorite. Sadly, I wore out disk 2, which now mistracks to the point that it is now unlistenable. For what it's worth, in days long past I routinely butchered several of the sonatas on euphonium. (To my dubious credit, I played from actual cello parts rather than brass transcriptions. No, I didn't attempt to play 'em in public. Even I had enough sense to avoid that embarrassment.)
 
#124 ·
I have a ridiculous number of recordings of the Bach suites - if forced to narrow it down to a reasonable number, I'd keep Queyras, Geringas (his third recording), Wispelwey's second one, Bylsma's first, Heinrich Schiff, Pergamenschikow, Bagratuni, and Kirshbaum.
 
#130 ·
I recently heard the new set by Demenga on ECM. I was prepared to love it, as in my book ECM can do no wrong. Until this. My opinion here, and only that: I thought the performance was very safe to uninspired, and there were some distracting intonation issues.

-09
 
#131 ·
I recently heard the new set by Demenga on ECM. I was prepared to love it, as in my book ECM can do no wrong. Until this. My opinion here, and only that: I thought the performance was very safe to uninspired, and there were some distracting intonation issues.
Interesting. That isn't how I hear this set, which I think has an improvisatory, even conversational quality. I didn't notice any significant intonation issues (Demenga plays without much vibrato), and I love the sound of his cello.
 
#136 · (Edited)
I have enjoyed Starker for many years (Mercury Living Presence) and Pablo Casals (EMI Classics) but lately I listen mostly to Joachim Eijlander (Navis Classics SACD DSF 256), I find the quality of the sound makes a real difference. I also enjoy Maurice Gendron's version (A little bit faster rythm)and Pieter Wispelwey, both in Flac 16-44, but sound wise, the Eijlander is hard to beat...
 
  • Like
Reactions: wkasimer
#138 ·
This post has brought me me to listen to all my recordings of the Suites and I must admit the 1990 recording by Wispelwey is very good. The 2012 recording of Wispelwey, I did not like as much. So I'm a little hesitant to give my best recording as of now because the Janos Starker recording under Mercury Living Presence (2004) has me wondering... For the time being ( I've just ordered the Fournier's version and Ophélie Gaillard) I'll go with Janos Starker but I may change again...
 
#137 · (Edited)
Those are some of my favorites too. In a fire, I'd grab Starker Mercury (haven't heard his later RCA set), Gendron, Fournier, Blysma I (don't know Bylsma 2), Wispelway 1 & 2 (haven't heard his 3rd recording), and not mentioned, Frans Helmerson, & on some days my top favorite, Ophélie Gaillard 2 (haven't heard Gaillard's first recording):







Among versions I'd like to hear at some point, Tanya Tomkins, Ophelie Gaillard 1, David Watkin, and Jean-Guihen Queyras.
 
#140 · (Edited)
Mandryka writes, "This is his second recording, much better vibrato than on BIS."

Actually, Helmerson had never recorded a complete set of the 6 Bach Cello Suites before, until the latest set. Although, in the mid-1970s, he did record the 3rd & 5th Suites, which were released on two separate BIS LPs (coupled with music by other composers). Then, later, with the emergence of the CD, BIS released these two recordings on a single CD in 1992: https://www.amazon.com/Bach-J-S-Cel...&sr=1-4-catcorr&keywords=frans+helmerson+Bach. My point being that Helmerson made these Bach recordings very early in his career, long before the influence of the period movement had become more widespread, or mainstream. Indeed, the mid-1970s isn't that far removed from the time when Bruggen, Schroeder, Leonhardt & the Kuijkens were still traveling around the Netherlands in a VW van, giving concerts.

Yet I don't recall Helmerson using more vibrato on his early Bach recordings (& remember liking the playing), but if you've compared them, it doesn't surprise me, as I wouldn't expect them to sound HIP. Or, are you saying that you think he uses more vibrato on the more recent Bach recordings, & prefer that? (which would surprise me).

I also remember that when Helmerson's first BIS recordings came out on LP (which included a terrific Dvorak Cello Concerto with Jaarvi & the Gothenburg S.O.), he was being talked about as a major new talent. I think of him as a musician's musician. & I also admire that he has championed the music of such contemporary composers as Aulis Sallinen & Arvo Pärt.

https://www.amazon.com/Sallinen-Sin...id=1524172611&sr=1-1&keywords=frans+helmerson
https://www.amazon.com/Pärt-Symphon...id=1524172611&sr=1-6&keywords=frans+helmerson

ramiot--I re-listened to parts of Ophélie Gaillard's 2nd recording again the other night, and don't think you'll be disappointed with your new purchase. She's remarkable in this music. What a talent.
 
#142 · (Edited)
Mandryka writes, "This is his second recording, much better vibrato than on BIS."

ramiot--I re-listened to parts of Ophélie Gaillard's 2nd recording again the other night, and don't think you'll be disappointed with your new purchase. She's remarkable in this music. What a talent.
Thank you, I received it and listen to it last night, I must admit that it is a great recording from a great artist. It will now rank as my no 1 along with Wispelwey and Janos Starker. She offers a 'softer' delivery/sound then Starker, but depending on my mood, I could rank the 3 of them as my No 1 recording of the Suites. Thanks for the recommandation to Joskin 13...

Robert
 
  • Like
Reactions: Josquin13
#143 · (Edited)
Okay, I've listened to both Helmerson recordings of the Prelude, and I agree. He only uses a tad less vibrato on the later recording of the Prelude to the Cello Suite No. 2, it's very slight, but the playing is so much more fluid & smoother, and the vibrato better integrated. So yes, I would agree that it's the "quality" of his vibrato that has changed, & not so much the "quantity" of it. I suppose Helmerson may be a tad more HIP influenced on the later recording, but not in any pronounced way.

(By the way, obviously I made an oversight on my earlier post. As the 2nd Cello Suite is also included on Helmerson's earlier BIS recording, along with the 3rd & 5th Suites. Unfortunately, I can't correct it now.)

I also listened to how several of the older cellists played the Prelude, and was surprised, as they sure do use a ton of vibrato. I hadn't listened to these recordings in a good while, and I can't say that I overly cared for what they do with the Prelude. For example, I normally like Maurice Gendron as a cellist (or at least I thought I did), but his use of vibrato in the Prelude seems excessive to me now. Here's a clip:



For others to compare, here's Helmerson's later recording of the Prelude:



and for a stronger contrast, here are two HIP performances of the Prelude, from Jean-Guihen Queyras & Ophélie Gaillard (her first recording?):




Times have certainly changed.

The more I hear of Queyras in the Bach Cello Suites, the more I like his playing. I'm going to purchase that set I think.

ramiot writes, "Thank you, I received it and listen to it last night, I must admit that it is a great recording from a great artist... Thanks for the recommandation to Joskin 13"

I'm pleased to hear that. You're most welcome.
 
#145 ·
I have the recordings by Tortelier and Rostropovich as well as the first two suites with Jacqueline Du Pre. My main problem with Rostropovich is that he recorded the suites too late in his career. While there are many good things about his recording, I always felt that it was a little bit on the heavy and aggressive side.

I love Tortelier's performance of the suites. The dance movements dance in a way that they don't with Rostropovich and you feel that the cellist takes great joy in playing these works.

The Du Pre recording of the first two suites is from early in her career when she was still a student. It is a very mixed bag and her direct approach to music doesn't work well for Bach. As a matter of fact, the interpretation feels rather romantic to me.
 
#147 ·
I have the recordings by Tortelier and Rostropovich as well as the first two suites with Jacqueline Du Pre. My main problem with Rostropovich is that he recorded the suites too late in his career. While there are many good things about his recording, I always felt that it was a little bit on the heavy and aggressive side.
You might be interested to know that Rostropovich recorded the suites much earlier, when he was only 28:

Glasses Musical instrument Musician Violin family String instrument


It's a bit quicker and lighter, but I don't think that age was the problem - I just don't think that Rostrpovich had much of an affinity for Bach. I'm not a big fan of either set.
 
Top