NGA Bach

[ardcarp]

No, not one of the many rellies, just J.S. on this afternoon's Early Music Now:


New Generation Bach


As part of the celebrations of the 20th anniversary of Radio 3's New Generation Artist scheme, Georgia Mann presents the cellist Andrei Ionit playing Bach's Cello Suite No 5 in C minor, BWV 1011.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000dqfr

[oddoneout]

Listened to this and I'm afraid I really did not like it.
Even after adjusting the bass levels on the radio the cello sounded bottom heavy, the heavyhanded playing style accentuated that, and the extraneous performance noises(clatters, bow squeaks etc) were not a bonus. I have no problem with non-HIPP , in some cases preferring it, but this I felt was just not good playing.

[ardcarp]

I haven't listened yet. So busy at the moment (out all evening rehearsing miles away) and there is so much to keep up with R3-wise.
I have a sort of problem with the cello suites. It sounds as if the NGA was miked a bit too close. I think the best I ever heard them played recently (and there's a lot to be said for Casals) was by Steven Isserlis in a cathedral setting. I was sitting behing a pillar and couldn't actually see him, but the acoustic helped a lot. The snag is, he played all of them back-to-back, and after a while the naughty thought of someone doing some sawing in the distance crossed my mind, and this in spite of Bach's utter genius. It doesn't happen with the violin sonata/partitas. I could listen to those all day.

PS Sorry Odders. I didm't actually edit your post...just pressed the wrong button!

[oddoneout]

and there is so much to keep up with R3-wise.

I find that very heartening given the doom and gloom that sometimes overtakes this forum!
Yes I think the sound bods could have done a better job, and yes I think the suites are better in moderate doses.
A wonderful memory I have is of a visit by the Tortelier family to Gloucester cathedral for a concert which included two of the suites. It was a small audience seated in the round, not in the nave, with Paul T on a low dais. His clear tone and precise playing were luminous( I feel there should be an aural equivalent of that but can't think of it) in the acoustic; possibly as a result of the location and small forces the usual impressive Gloucester echo was not apparent.