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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The other reviews here show that this is obviously a Marmite set - you either love it or you hate it. Me, I love it I treasure it and play it often. In such circumstances another review may not be of that much help to an undecided prospective purchaser because you can't know in advance whose taste you share, but for what it's worth:
The treasure of this set for me is the B Minor Mass. It has been described as the greatest work of art in any medium ever and while that may be a rather overblown claim it isn't wholly indefensible. Gardiner's interpretation does it proud. It has intensity, intellectual weight, a deep respect for the work and, above all, radiant beauty. I love it. I also have the Andrew Parrott recording (now available very reasonably on Virgin Veritas) and treasure the two equally. I've heard quite a few others which I don't like as much. There isn't a single correct way to do the B Minor Mass and your taste may not coincide with mine, but if you're looking for a really fine recording I don't think you can go wrong with Gardiner (or Parrott, for that matter).
I'm less qualified to compare versions of the other great works in this box as these are the only recordings I own and listen to in detail. Probably the reason for this is that I'm extremely happy with them. I've heard others which I have liked very much, and the Gardiner versions seem to me to stand up with the best of them. The singers in this set are simply fantastic - Nancy Argenta, Anne Sophie von Otter, Barbara Bonney, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stephen Varcoe to name but a few. The orchestra and chorus sound fresh and involved, and I derive huge pleasure from the whole set.
Gardiner seems to arouse strong passions in some musical breasts - one Amazon reviewer has written scathingly of both his Santiago discs, for example, which I think are sublime. For myself I think he's a great Bach interpreter and nine discs of him directing some of the world's finest music at this price seems to me to be a monumental bargain. I can see that some knowledgeable and passionate music lovers here have grave reservations but I, like the great majority of professional reviewers did, recommend this set wholeheartedly.
The treasure of this set for me is the B Minor Mass. It has been described as the greatest work of art in any medium ever and while that may be a rather overblown claim it isn't wholly indefensible. Gardiner's interpretation does it proud. It has intensity, intellectual weight, a deep respect for the work and, above all, radiant beauty. I love it. I also have the Andrew Parrott recording (now available very reasonably on Virgin Veritas) and treasure the two equally. I've heard quite a few others which I don't like as much. There isn't a single correct way to do the B Minor Mass and your taste may not coincide with mine, but if you're looking for a really fine recording I don't think you can go wrong with Gardiner (or Parrott, for that matter).
I'm less qualified to compare versions of the other great works in this box as these are the only recordings I own and listen to in detail. Probably the reason for this is that I'm extremely happy with them. I've heard others which I have liked very much, and the Gardiner versions seem to me to stand up with the best of them. The singers in this set are simply fantastic - Nancy Argenta, Anne Sophie von Otter, Barbara Bonney, Anthony Rolfe Johnson, Stephen Varcoe to name but a few. The orchestra and chorus sound fresh and involved, and I derive huge pleasure from the whole set.
Gardiner seems to arouse strong passions in some musical breasts - one Amazon reviewer has written scathingly of both his Santiago discs, for example, which I think are sublime. For myself I think he's a great Bach interpreter and nine discs of him directing some of the world's finest music at this price seems to me to be a monumental bargain. I can see that some knowledgeable and passionate music lovers here have grave reservations but I, like the great majority of professional reviewers did, recommend this set wholeheartedly.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Ever since listening to St. John Passion as a young boy, I always had respect for Bach's music and classical music as a whole. However, until taking a small risk and buying this set, I steered clear of Bach unless it was impossible to do so. Having to study Baroque music at university this year gave me the real impetus to do so and I don't regret it for a second. This boxset is now my most treasured musical possession and I can't stop listening to the 4 great works contained within. The opening movements of each work are reason enough to buy the set on its own, but when you listen to them all as I was compelled to do, you discover that under the contrapuntal surface of Bach lies a genius who is capable of bringing out the fire in one's heart and moving you at the same time. At 22 pounds i thought this was a bargain as they are 20 pounds separately, saving you a lot of money.
The conducting from John Eliot Gardiner is again top-notch with the soloists, choir and orchestra doing the works supreme justice. The only downside is that there are no libretti, but no doubt they could be found on-line or even by buying the scores.
If you don't know Bach or you don't own these works, I would suggest that you start here, since at this price you really can't go wrong.
The conducting from John Eliot Gardiner is again top-notch with the soloists, choir and orchestra doing the works supreme justice. The only downside is that there are no libretti, but no doubt they could be found on-line or even by buying the scores.
If you don't know Bach or you don't own these works, I would suggest that you start here, since at this price you really can't go wrong.
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
These are enjoyable recordings, if a bit too 'polished' for some. For me, the dignity in Bach's music is in the clarity of structure and restraint. Heart and soul can be found in the care taken to present a faithful recording of the score. Therefore I find these performances far from emotionally cold. I'm not the biggest fan of Gardiner, so I was pleasantly surprised.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Super recordings, great value!
Lovely clean Arkhiv recordings and at this price awesome value for money boxed set! It would set you back more to buy these performances separately!
Published 4 months ago by John Roots
A++
Such work must not go unappreciated.I am not referring strictly to the musical part, but to the excellent services delivering the product as well. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Z.
An excellent recording and superb value for money
A superb introduction to Bach Choral music. A delight to listen to and what a bargain price..love it
Published on 5 Dec 2009 by DrBluey
A bargain even at full price
Almost every day I play part of this set!
My favorite is the B Minor Mass which has been described as the greatest work of music ever composed. Read more
My favorite is the B Minor Mass which has been described as the greatest work of music ever composed. Read more
Published on 10 Sep 2009 by M. G. KETTERIDGE
Bach without nobility
Believe me - I LOVE a good period instrument performance.
But my introduction to the wonderful, inspiring, deep, soulful and noble choral works of Bach started,... Read more
But my introduction to the wonderful, inspiring, deep, soulful and noble choral works of Bach started,... Read more
Published on 5 April 2007 by rc_rc
Truth hurts, doesn't it?
I've kept out of this until now but wondered when the outrage would begin after Harry Callahan's brave review below. Read more
Published on 17 Jan 2007 by J.D.La Rue
Simply The Best
In view of the anazing opinion of another reviewer who gave this one star, I point out that these records of the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor receive the highest "G"... Read more
Published on 15 Nov 2006 by Allan Lee
Fabulous music sung fabulously
Ignore the person who gave this a 1 star review. It's simply ridiculous to give it such a low rating. Read more
Published on 13 Nov 2006 by Simon Loo
The naked Emperor
I know this will be regarded as heresy, not least after reading some of the reviews below, but then so were the words of the child in the story that the Emperor had no... Read more
Published on 31 July 2006 by Harry Callahan
Simply the best
Sir John Eliot's recordings of Bach are simply among the finest performances of music captured on record. Read more
Published on 24 July 2006 by J. Hutchings
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