Our Summer BAL 14: Bach's Suites for Solo Cello (Merged threads)

[amateur51]

Heard extract from Richard Tunnicliffe's set on CD Review yesterday - very complimentary review by Andrew, but I'm afraid I was chiefly aware of his heavy and laboured breathing (Tunnicliffe's). Not sure I'd want to listen to that very often. I'm noticing this on more recordings of solo or chamber music these days - was it ever thus, and are microphones just too sensitive, or performers too closely miked in some recordings?

Thanks RT - I'll listen to CD Review on iPlayer.

Tunnicliffe's playing impressed me 'live' and for some reason I'm not disconcerted by performers' breathing & grunting, nor by conductors' sing-along, in fact I rather like that.

I once heard Claudio Arrau sniff during a solo recital at the Royal Festival Hall.

And I was sitting in the balcony

[Richard Tarleton]

Tunnicliffe's playing impressed me 'live' and for some reason I'm not disconcerted by performers' breathing & grunting, nor by conductors' sing-along, in fact I rather like that.

Actually I'm not too bothered in live performance - it's just the knowledge they're going to grunt or sniff in exactly the same place every time I listen to the CD

I did see and hear Ashkenazy sneeze during a Mozart concerto in the Brangwyn Hall - he was also directing. The poor man had a stinking cold, and managed to sneeze absolutely in time. Charming and happily not being recorded.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

The Ralph Kirshbaum CD's are quite wonderful. Very warm sound, lovely musicianship. Not dried up like some. Well recorded too. (Virgin Classics 7243 5 61609 2) Two CD's.

absolutely Ariosto!

thought Tunnicliffe sounded laboured in the playing .....

Fournier is also a favourite .. but Kirschbaum is wonderful

[verismissimo]

Heard extract from Richard Tunnicliffe's set... I was chiefly aware of his heavy and laboured breathing (Tunnicliffe's). Not sure I'd want to listen to that very often. I'm noticing this on more recordings of solo or chamber music these days - was it ever thus, and are microphones just too sensitive, or performers too closely miked in some recordings?

The recording co tyrannised Peter Cropper because of his heavy breathing early in his career. I have the impression they tried everything including getting him to hold his breath. You may have noticed that the later Lindsays' recordings were mostly live!

[rkyburz]

My personal favorites here are Wispelwey (1998), and — — — Paolo Pandolfo (2000) on the viola da gamba (I rate the listening experience / pleasure even higher than with Wispelwey); my other recordings include Bylsma (1979 and 1992), ter Linden, Rostropovich, and Vito Paternoster, plus Casals, of course; my average ratings for these recordings (back in 2008) were

Rostropovich, 1991: 2.1 (Cello Stradivari 1711)
Casals, 1936 - 1939: 3.2 (Cello Goffriller 1700)
ter Linden, 1996: 3.2 (Cello Bergonzi 1725 - 30, Vc. piccolo Amati, ca. 1600)
Bylsma, 1992: 3.4 (Cello Stradivari 1701, Vc. piccolo ca. 1700)
Paternoster, 1998: 3.4 (Cello Carcassi 1792)
Bylsma, 1979: 3.6 (Cello Goffriller 1669, Vc. piccolo ca. 1700)
Wispelwey, 1998: 4.3 (Cello Barack Norman 1710, Vc. piccolo 18th)
Pandolfo, 2000: 4.6 (Viola da gamba Bertrand, late 17th)

In the time of LPs, I grew up with Casals (still "know them by heart", almost), later adding the earlier Bylsma recording. Needless to say: I prefer HIP over "traditional articulation"; I listened to excerpts by Yo-Yo Ma and can't find anything attractive / interesting in them, and I don't feel like adding Tortelier, Fournier, etc. -

[Thropplenoggin]

My personal favorites here are Wispelwey (1998), and — — — Paolo Pandolfo (2000) on the viola da gamba (I rate the listening experience / pleasure even higher than with Wispelwey); my other recordings include Bylsma (1979 and 1992), ter Linden, Rostropovich, and Vito Paternoster, plus Casals, of course; my average ratings for these recordings (back in 2008) were

Rostropovich, 1991: 2.1 (Cello Stradivari 1711)
Casals, 1936 - 1939: 3.2 (Cello Goffriller 1700)
ter Linden, 1996: 3.2 (Cello Bergonzi 1725 - 30, Vc. piccolo Amati, ca. 1600)
Bylsma, 1992: 3.4 (Cello Stradivari 1701, Vc. piccolo ca. 1700)
Paternoster, 1998: 3.4 (Cello Carcassi 1792)
Bylsma, 1979: 3.6 (Cello Goffriller 1669, Vc. piccolo ca. 1700)
Wispelwey, 1998: 4.3 (Cello Barack Norman 1710, Vc. piccolo 18th)
Pandolfo, 2000: 4.6 (Viola da gamba Bertrand, late 17th)

In the time of LPs, I grew up with Casals (still "know them by heart", almost), later adding the earlier Bylsma recording. Needless to say: I prefer HIP over "traditional articulation"; I listened to excerpts by Yo-Yo Ma and can't find anything attractive / interesting in them, and I don't feel like adding Tortelier, Fournier, etc. -

Another vote for Wispelwey. His seems something of an evergreen performance where others have faded with time.

I have to say I've been taken recently with Jaap ter Linden's first outing on a period instrument (a middling 3.2 for rkyburz) and available on Harmonia Mundi.

One name I'm surprised hasn't cropped up in this thread, unless I've missed it, is Jean-Guihen Queyras, who seems to be the current cello It-boy.

[Tony Halstead]

Although undoubtedly controversial, the Angela East recording is definitely the most interesting and thought-provoking of all the 'HIPP' versions:

http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2010/Feb10/Bach_East_RP006.htm

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

The Ralph Kirshbaum CD's are quite wonderful. Very warm sound, lovely musicianship. Not dried up like some. Well recorded too. (Virgin Classics 7243 5 61609 2) Two CD's.

..couldn't agree more!!!!

[Thropplenoggin]

..couldn't agree more!!!!

What a lovely mellifluous tone! Sold, to the chap in the pith helmet!

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

came across this version on viola .... still works very well imho

[gamba]

Did we ever decide best set Bach cello suites ?

Have now decided - never mind the big names, after buying 5 sets, my final choice is Ralph Kirschbaum.

[amateur51]

That seems a very sound choice, gamba

[Parry1912]

Have you heard Jian Wang's set? Beautiful playing.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

Have now decided - never mind the big names, after buying 5 sets, my final choice is Ralph Kirschbaum.

could not agree more!!!!

[gamba]

Thanks folks,

I already have;

Janos Starker,Heinrich Schiff, Steven Isserlis, Pierre Fournier & Jaap ter Linden - one more, then I'll stop - I promise !!

Couldn't resist Kirschbaum just seemed right in most respects. I have heard him ' live ' on two occasions & been very impressed.


Also, wandered from my office one morning into the rehearsal studio at BBC Glasgow to find Kirschbaum sitting awaiting a ' run through ' of the Haydn C maj. concerto. Was introduced to him by friend, mentor & principal 'cellist of the BBCSSO, John Mc Inulty.
After a few moments of general 'chat' & catching me staring at the instrument Kirschbaum said, " No, in case you are thinking so, it's not a Stradivari, a Strad is the Queen of instruments, what I have here is the King, a Montagnana." A true remark, they have wider dimensions in all the right places giving added bass, a quite remarkable sound. I stayed & listened - a memorable occasion.