Rating: 4/5
Review:
A good interpretation
I like Richard Narroway's interpretation of the Cello
Suites, although I'm not sure it really stands out among the many fine
recordings of these works.
Narroway is a very fine cellist with a lovely tone and
excellent technique. He does bring his
own personality to the music (as he should), but he allows Bach to speak
without overlaying the music with a lot of unnecessary tricks and quirks. It's a fine, solid and very listenable
performance.
My minor reservations are largely personal feelings: perhaps
the Courante of Suite No.1 is a little too halting in its rhythm; those
magnificent wide arpeggios in the Prelude to Suite No.3 are taken too fast and
lightly to really ring out; the Sarabande of Suite No.5 lacks the monumental
weight and depth that it can sometimes have…that sort of thing.
Others may disagree, and overall this is a good
interpretation. The recorded sound is
good (although there's some rather intrusive breathing at times) and I don't
think anyone would be disappointed in Narroway's interpretation. For me, it's not up there with Watkin,
Isserlis, Fournier and a couple of others which I regard as truly great, nor
with the delightful individuality of Anne Gastinel, but Narroway holds his own
in a crowded field and I can recommend it.
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