Bach: Brandenburg Concertos [CD]

This is a truly outstanding rendition of the Brandenburgs, which is saying something, as there are many excellent versions in the field. My picks are 1 and 2, 1 with the wonderfully exuberant horns (the players give every impression of having a great time), and 2 with a brilliant account of the wickedly difficult trumpet part, the best on a natural trumpet I've heard. And you can still hear the recorder! The others are also beautifully played, with bouncy Gardinerish tempi (clearly concertmaster Kati Debretzeni has learned from The Boss).

Arise, go forth, and buy. You won't be disappointed.

Finally we have John Elliot Gardiner's interpretation's of Bach's famous Brandenburg Concertos.Of all the well known authentic specialists Gardiner is among the last to record them although as he states in the booklet notes,he only conducted concertos 1 and 2 but rehearsed the others with his players.
The results on initial hearing are staggering.Gardiner sets brisk tempo for the allegro in concerto no 1 for which the horn players do a fantastic job.Natural Horns from the Baroque era are incredibly difficult to play and this is usually a weak point in period instrument recording's but Anneke Scott and David Bentley perform very well indeed here.In concerto no 2 Gardiner sets VERY brisk tempo,perhaps too much so,but the notoriously
hard trumpet part is AMAZINGLY played by Neil Brough,certainly the best i have yet to hear.It's a brilliant performance for which he deserves a medal,especially at those speeds.Concerto 3 to 6 are all played very skillfully too.
How this new period recording of the Brandenburg's will stand up upon repeated listening only time will tell but on first hearing it's truly remarkable.I have never heard concerto's 1 and 2 (always extremely difficult for the brass players) performed so technically well.Although the tempi Gardiner sets is rather too brisk there is no denying that it's also exhilarating.

All in all this is a joyous and lively account of the Brandenburg Concertos which is superbly played and well recorded,if a little dry.There are countless authentic instrument versions available but this one certainly deserves a place in the very top bracket.If you want your Brandenburg's performed more moderate then try the English Concert/Trevor Pinnock or the New London Consort/Philip Pickett but if fast pacing and vitality are your thing then go for Gardiner.

N.B. New notes added 5th June 2010.- After 8 months i have returned to give this recording another listen.I'm still amazed at the playing of the brass players in particular and feel that it deserves 5 stars because of this but i also still feel that the tempi in the allegros of concerto's 1 and 2 in particular are uncomfortably brisk.

Also completely agree with r.b. Pleasingly, the opening seems less frantic than other versions, but that's not to say that this recording lacks passion or dynamism (when required). The musicians have clearly worked hard in rehearsal & obviously thoroughly enjoy Bach's great work, playing it with effortless virtuosity that expertly mixes verve & excitement with pathos & subtlety.

This is also an excellent recording: the instruments sound detailed, rich & expansive in tone, but never harsh or brittle; the soundstage is open & room-filling with fine separation; & it's always a good sign that a recording is so detailed that you can hear the musicians drawing breath.