J.S. Bach - The 4 Orchestral Suites (Masaaki Suzuki) [2005] (PS3 SACD rip)

Listeners who already know Masaaki Suzuki and the Bach Collegium Japan from their recordings of Bach's Brandenburg Concertos, violin concertos, cantatas, and Passions will know what to expect from their recording of Bach's overtures. For those listeners unfamiliar with Suzuki and the BCJ, what they can expect is bright, light, lively, and loving performances of superior virtuosity and impeccable lucidity. They can expect brilliant string playing, emphatic brass playing, impressive tympani playing, and, in the Third Suite, stunning flauto traverso playing. They can expect incisive tempos, clear textures, clean counterpoint, and joyous interpretations. They can also expect the occasionally odd rhythmic accents – where did the offbeat accents come from in the Third Ouverture's Menuet? – and, every so often, a certain sense of superficiality – the Fourth Ouverture's happiness is unfeigned but sometimes seems a shade shallow. But, for listeners who don't already know Suzuki and the BCJ's work, the set is a splendid place to start. BIS' super audio sound puts the BCJ right in your living room.


Track listing


Disc 1:

1. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: I. Ouverture
2. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: II. Air
3. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: III. Gavotte I - II - I
4. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: IV. Bourrée
5. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: V. Gigue
6. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: I. Ouverture
7. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: II. Courante
8. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: III. Gavotee I - II - I
9. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: IV. Forlane
10. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: V. Menuet I - II - I
11. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: VI. Bourrée I - II - I
12. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: VII. Passepied I - II - I
13. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: I. Ouverture
14. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: II. Rondeau
15. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: III. Sarabande
16. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: IV. Bourrée I - II - I
17. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: V. Polonaise - Double - Polonaise
18. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: VI. Menuet
19. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: VII. Badinerie



Disc 2:

1. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: I. Ouverture
2. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: II. Bourrée I - II - I
3. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: III. Gavotte
4. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: IV. Menuet I - II - I
5. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: V. Réjouissance



Featured Artists:


Director: Masaaki Suzuki



Bach Collegium Japan:


Tromba (Trumpet) I: Toshio Shimada

Tromba II: Graham Nicholson

Tromba III: Ayako Murata

Timpani: Kjartan Gudnason

Flauto traverso: Liliko Maeda

Oboe I: Masamitsu San'nomiya

Oboe II: Atsuko Osaki

Oboe III: Yukari Maekashi

Fagotto: Kiyotaka Dosaka

Violino I: Natsumi Wakamatsu (leader), Paul Herrera, Yuko Takeshima

Violino II: Azumi Takada, Yuko Araki, Yukie Yamaguchi

Viola: Yoshiko Morita, Hiroshi Narita


CONTINUO

Violoncello: Hidemi Suzuki, Takashi Kaketa

Contrabbasso: Shigeru Sakurai

Cembalo: Masaaki Suzuki





Album: J. S. Bach: The 4 Orchestral Suites

Release Date: 2005

Label: BIS Records [9871]

Time: 99:45