Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Listen to Samples and Buy MP3s
Songs from this album are available to purchase as MP3s. Click on "Buy MP3" or
view the MP3 Album.
|
Product Description
Review
'Rachel Podger created Brecon Baroque in 2007 as the resident orchestra for her annual Brecon Festival. They re first-rate players, lending an intimate one-to-a-part chamber-music quality to these four familiar concertos. Their light, transparent quality encourages some lively tempos the last movement of BWV1041 and the first of BWV1042 are thrilling, thoughtfully shaped and articulated but without inhibiting a powerful sense of propulsion and drive and Podger enhances the da capo of the E major opening movement with some irrepressibly high-spirited decorations. The slow movements of these two (original) concertos are beautifully conceived, the first played with its recurring bass rhythm peacefully relaxed, the second with a foundation of absolute legato not a trace of vibrato over which the soloist sings its melancholy line. ' BBC Music Magazine - November 2010 - George Pratt Performance 5/5 --BBC Music Magazine --BBC Radio 3 - CD Review
Above all this is a community endeavour. Podger's six supporting musicians play alongside with exquisite skill and freshness. They illuminate the secret parts in Bach's dancing counterpoint (there's a lovely example in the first movement of BWV1042) and provide a thrilling kaleidoscope of colours. With playing of this level, ironing the bedsheets is impossible. For, wrapped in concentration, transported in bliss, you'd probably put down the iron and scorch them. ----The Times - Geoff Brown CD of the Week
Above all this is a community endeavour. Podger's six supporting musicians play alongside with exquisite skill and freshness. They illuminate the secret parts in Bach's dancing counterpoint (there's a lovely example in the first movement of BWV1042) and provide a thrilling kaleidoscope of colours. With playing of this level, ironing the bedsheets is impossible. For, wrapped in concentration, transported in bliss, you'd probably put down the iron and scorch them. ----The Times - Geoff Brown CD of the Week
About the Artist
The dynamic ensemble Brecon Baroque was founded in 2007 by violinist Rachel Podger as resident ensemble at her annual Brecon Baroque Festival. The international line-up consists of some of some of the leading lights in the period-instrument world, such as cellist Alison McGillivray, flautist Katie Bircher, oboist Alexandra Bellamy and violist Jane Rogers, as well as some of Rachel's 'star' former students who now occupy leading positions in many of Europe's finest ensembles.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
This is another really fine, enjoyable disc from Rachel Podger. She is now established as one of the world's finest baroque violinists, as well as a great interpreter of Mozart. Two of her previous Bach recordings have been the Radio 3 Building a Library First Choice in the face of competition from many of the greatest violinists (Bach: Complete Sonatas and Partitas for Violin Solo and Bach: Complete Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord /Podger · Pinnock) and I think this disc is just as good.
The programme here comprises Bach's two familiar violin concertos in A minor and E major, BWV 1041 and 1042, plus two reconstructions from harpsichord concertos BWV 1055 and 1056. They are all very fine works which show Bach's real mastery and the variety of his writing, with the vigorous and dance-like beside the beautiful and tender.
Rachel Podger shows her real depth of understanding of Bach here, but it is lightly worn: she plays the concertos with immense grace and lightness of touch so that they really dance and shine with charm and beauty, but she never loses any of their intellectual weight. The ensemble is small - just six players, hand-picked by Podger - which gives a delightful spring and suppleness to the quicker movements and a wonderful beauty to the slow movements, which to me are the highlights of this disc. It is exemplary Bach playing, I think.
The recorded sound is excellent and the notes very good. Channel Classics have even managed to make the presentation attractive, which hasn't always been their strong point. It's a really outstanding disc - I have loved these works for many years and already have a number of treasured recordings, but I think these may take their place as my favourites
The programme here comprises Bach's two familiar violin concertos in A minor and E major, BWV 1041 and 1042, plus two reconstructions from harpsichord concertos BWV 1055 and 1056. They are all very fine works which show Bach's real mastery and the variety of his writing, with the vigorous and dance-like beside the beautiful and tender.
Rachel Podger shows her real depth of understanding of Bach here, but it is lightly worn: she plays the concertos with immense grace and lightness of touch so that they really dance and shine with charm and beauty, but she never loses any of their intellectual weight. The ensemble is small - just six players, hand-picked by Podger - which gives a delightful spring and suppleness to the quicker movements and a wonderful beauty to the slow movements, which to me are the highlights of this disc. It is exemplary Bach playing, I think.
The recorded sound is excellent and the notes very good. Channel Classics have even managed to make the presentation attractive, which hasn't always been their strong point. It's a really outstanding disc - I have loved these works for many years and already have a number of treasured recordings, but I think these may take their place as my favourites
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By r.b.
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Rachel Podger is without question one of the greatest violin masters specializing in 17th and 18th century performance practice.Her technique on this cd is fabulous as are her tempi judgements in 4 wonderful Bach concertos.BWV 1041 and 1042 are very well known and have been recorded countless times but Rachael and her Brecon Baroque ensemble,in my view,outshine every other account i have ever heard.BWV 1055 and 1056 survive only in the form of harpsichord concertos that Bach later transcribed from their now sadly lost originals.Modern scholarship believe that BWV1056 was originally a violin concerto in the key of g minor which Bach transposed down to f minor for the harpsichord version to better accommodate it's register.BWV 1055 is thought to have been an oboe concerto however many think it may also have been a viola concerto for we know that Bach loved the sound of the viola according to surviving accounts and there is no denying that technically this concerto is rather easier to perform than the others.On this cd it's played on the violin and it sounds terrific thanks to Rachel's sensible and vast knowledge of Baroque practice.What a disc!!!
Sound quality is top notch - Highly recommended.
Sound quality is top notch - Highly recommended.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By googolplex
Format:Audio CD|Amazon Verified Purchase
I first heard items from this recording on BBC R3 and was immediately struck by the freshness of the approach and intelligence of the playing. Having purchased the recording, I am delighted by the outcome. I have heard many dry 'period instruments' recordings before, as well as some others which try and be gimmicky by doing something which may well work in live performance but would annoy me on repeated listening. Hence, I always approach such recordings with care. Podger directs an expert ensemble and the whole is excellently coordinated with supreme rapport between soloist and players. The recorded sound also appeals with a crystal clear edge to the strings and a vibrant bass - which is something I always appreciate. The interpretations are charming. I particularly enjoyed the G minor transcription (after BWV1056) which was very convincing indeed, with lyricism in the largo that so many performances miss and which the original harpsichord concerto can never achieve. Surely this was first and foremost a violin concerto!
This recording would grace any collection. Highly recommended.
This recording would grace any collection. Highly recommended.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 9 reviews
4.1 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Re-think Bach concertos!
Had wanted to check out Rachel Podger having heard accolades from musicians. And I see why. Extraordinary tone and sensitivity to phrasing - for spine tingling results. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Monteverdi 3
5.0 out of 5 stars
Rachel does it again
I've been a fan of Rachel Podger since she was a teenager. Now living in Herefordshire, I'm lucky to be able to get to her Brecon Baroque concerts easily. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Mike Evans
5.0 out of 5 stars
JS Bach - Violin Concertos
I am a keen chamber and Baroque fan. This CD is fantastic value and an absolute joy to listen to. Rachel Podger brings Bach to life in a way I have not experienced before. Read more
Published on 12 Jan 2011 by Clive
1.0 out of 5 stars
it's a background music
J. S. Bach
Violin Concerto BWV 1041, 1042, 1055, 1056
Rachel Podger - violin
Brecon Baroque:
Bojan Cicic - violin
Johannes Pramsohler - violin
Jane... Read more
Violin Concerto BWV 1041, 1042, 1055, 1056
Rachel Podger - violin
Brecon Baroque:
Bojan Cicic - violin
Johannes Pramsohler - violin
Jane... Read more
Published on 10 Nov 2010 by K. MIURA
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
