Rating: 3/5
Review:
Not really for me
I'm afraid this disc didn't really work for me. I'm sorry to say it because I greatly admire many of
Suzuki's Bach recordings, but I don't think these arrangements really work that
well.
Suzuki has included three well-known concertos for two
harpsichords, and has arranged the First Orchestral Suite for two harpsichords
alone. The outer two works are Bach's
transcriptions of the Double Violin Concerto and the Concerto for Violin and
Oboe and although it is almost sacrilegious to say this of Bach, I'm afraid I
think they lose a lot in translation.
That sublime slow movement from the Double Violin Concerto loses much of
its sensuous grace as the violins twine around each other, and the vigorous,
toe-tapping finale of the Violin and Oboe Concerto doesn't quite have the right
pace and zing when played on harpsichords.
With both concertos I find I'm straining to pick the sense of the piece
out of the rather generalised sound of the harpsichords and I also find that
the Orchestral Suite, although perfectly listenable, loses a lot of its
interest and character when its orchestral colour is removed.
This is just a personal response and you may, of course,
disagree entirely. The musicianship is
excellent (of course), the recorded sound is good and, to be fair, this version
of the concerto BWV1061 is very good.
For me, though, this is of interest rather than a disc to be enjoyed and
listened to repeatedly, and I can only give it a very qualified recommendation.
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