Johann Sebastian Bach Benjamin Britten English Chamber Orchestra - Bach Brandenburg Concertos Britten ECO (25 tracks) +Album Reviews

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Johann Sebastian Bach, Benjamin Britten, English Chamber Orchestra
Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO
Genre: Classical

Track Listings (13) - Disc #1
1. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: l Allegro
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: ll Adagio
3. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lll Allegro
4. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: lV Menuetto: Trio l
5. Brandenburg Concerto No.1 In F Major, BWV 1046: V Polacca: Trio ll
6. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: l Allegro
7. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: ll Andante
8. Brandenburg Concerto No.2 In F Major, BWV 1047: lll Allegro assai
9. Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: l Allegro
10. Brandenburg Concerto No.3 In G Major, BWV 1048: ll Allegro
11. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: l Allegro
12. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: ll Andante
13. Brandenburg Concerto No.4 In G Major, BWV 1049: lll Presto
Track Listings (12) - Disc #2
1. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: l Allegro
2. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: ll Affettuoso
3. Brandenburg Concerto No.5 In D Major, BWV 1050: lll Allegro
4. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: l Allegro
5. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: ll Adagio ma non Troppo
6. Brandenburg Concerto No.6 In B Flat Major, BWV 1051: lll Allegro
7. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): l Allegro
8. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): ll Adagio
9. Concerto for violin, oboe & strings in D Minor (from BWV 1060): lll Allegro
10. Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): l Allegro
11. Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): ll Largo
12. Concerto For flute And Strings In G Minor (From BWV 1056): lll Presto

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CD Details

All Artists: Johann Sebastian Bach, Benjamin Britten, English Chamber Orchestra, Neville Marriner, Ifor James, Peter Graeme, Anthony Randall, Richard Adeney, David Mason, Philip Ledger, Norman Knight, Christopher Hogwood, Carmel Kaine, Nicholas Kraemer, Tess Miller, William Bennett, Emanuel Hurwitz
Title: Bach - Brandenburg Concertos / Britten, ECO
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Decca
Release Date: 5/16/1995
Genre: Classical
Styles: Forms & Genres, Concertos, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750), Modern, 20th, & 21st Century, Instruments, Keyboard
Number of Discs: 2
SwapaCD Credits: 2
UPC: 028944384727

Synopsis

Amazon.com

Benjamin Britten's Bach is a "middle-of-the-road" version of these delightful works. They offer no startling departures from the Baroque style favored in the 1960s, but are ripe, polished performances with a fearless trumpet soloist in No. 2, and outstanding flute and violin solos throughout. Modern instruments and moderate tempos may seem stodgy these days, but there's integrity in Britten's music-making and this set, recorded in 1968, still sounds fresh, easily holding its own against more recent versions. As an added attraction, London includes concerti for violin and oboe, and flute and strings, both done in the 1970s with Neville Marriner leading light and springy readings of distinction. --Dan Davis

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CD Reviews

Not "authentic," but still one of the best

mr_keiichi | 06/15/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I'll say it right now: THIS RECORDING IS PERFORMED WITH MODERN INSTRUMENTS. You have been warned. Don't buy it if you strongly believe that all Baroque music must be played on Baroque-period instruments.With that said, this is still a very enjoyable rendition of Bach's greatest orchestral works. The small ensemble size makes for a crisp, intimate recording -- almost like having a personal orchestra in your very own home. That's right, these formerly-analog recordings are surprisingly clear and realistic. The performance itself is also top-notch; Britten understands the Baroque style very well and carefully avoids over-romanticizing. At the same time, he makes sure never to become mechanical in the interpretation. Bach's music is notorious for being mathematically precise, but why shouldn't we put some feeling into the musical equation? Everyone sounds like they're having a rollicking good time on the recording, and you will too after absorbing yourself in the music.Speaking of rollicking good times, the soloists go all out on this recording to show off their skills. The unforgettable harpsichord solo in the 5th concerto is as good as any I've ever heard, the violin work in the 4th is absolutely smokin', and I'm sure there's a lot of other great solos that I can't remember right now.The two extra concertos on the second disc (the one for violin/oboe and the other for flute) are a very pleasant surprise -- you may even find them more enjoyable than the Brandenburgs. I would have given this recording 5 stars, but it loses one for not being on period instruments. However, it's still great value for money and an excellent introduction to the music of Bach!"

Wonderful

F. Haji | Toronto, Canada | 12/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Frankly I was surprised when I listened to this set. I was expecting a heavy, romantic, modern instrument version of the Brandenburgs. However, Britten's Brandenburgs are very baroque and stylishly played.The fast movements have a lot zest...without excessively fast tempos. The slow movements are warm and expressive. There are no surprises here...nor are there any disappointments...just very skilled music making from the ECO.The recorded sound is excellent! I have said this before, but some of these older analogue recordings have a warmth about them that modern digital recordings lack.A great set, and given the price an bargain too!"

Fine set of Brandenburgs

A reader | Santa Cruz, CA USA | 08/31/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In college I grew up with the Ristenpart / Chamber Orchestra of the Saar recordings of the Brandenburgs (on Nonesuch, LP only; the CD version on Accord is tricky to find). This set is rather like those recordings in spirit, but to my surprise, after much back and forth comparison, I think I like this version even better. Both have a warmth and a vitality; neither is afraid to feel some emotion. But I prefer the recording quality of the Britten version, and the intonation of the horns in particular seems better in this recording. The oboe/horn duet in the last movement of the 1st concerto is downright jolly, almost humorous (I don't know whether it's supposed to be, and I don't care; I just like it).

I also compared this to a recent recording with original instruments, and while I like the idea of using the old instruments, I just don't like the harsh, scratchy violins and out-of-tune horns.

The Britten recordings of the Brandenburgs are also available on Penguin; while the Douglas Adams essays are brilliant, I prefer the London set's two bonus concertos (conducted by Neville Marriner) to the violin concerto on the second Penguin CD. These two concertos are conjectural reconstructions from a harpsichord concerto of earlier works that no longer exist. I find them a colorful addition to the Brandenburgs."

Fine Performance on Modern Instruments

James Skrydlak | Pella, Iowa | 02/01/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If recorders, natural trumpets, etc., are important to you in performances of Bach's music, stay away from this performance. If, however, you like transcriptions, Bach played on the piano, etc., I can whole-heartedly recommend this recording.The performances here use flutes, trumpets with pistons, etc. I expect that the violins have the longer necks that have been in use since the nineteenth century, and that many other canons of authentic baroque performance are violated. These are not, however, the lushc, romantic performances common in the 1960s. The tempi are slower than typically used today, but not much. The performing group is relatively small. The violinists employ vibrato sparingly.Most important, Britten conducts with a great understanding of and love for the music, and the musicians play wonderfully.And, of course, the set is a bargain."

Britten, Bach, Beautiful

Gregory M. Zinkl | Chicago, IL | 03/23/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This set of the Brandenburgs are wonderful.The ECO is a polished ensemble, and while I don't understand all the fuss about modern vs. period instruments (music is music, and can be well--or poorly--performed on either flavor), the playing is fine indeed, and the soloists are outstanding.Britten's musical talents were so manifold--here he conducts Bach w/ unerring tempi, orchestral balances, and love for the music. The other Britten Bach I know, the St. John Passion, while not perfect (the diction by the singers could have been much improved, but hey, that seems to be the state for a lot of performances), reveals that the incredible success of this set was no fluke.The history of Britten with the ECO is interesting, too, and it's great to have history preserved, w/ excellent performances, that reveal the genius of two greats: Bach and Britten.The engineering isn't perfect: you certainly won't get digital clarity. While I prefer a more spacious sound, the engineering is warm. It should not disappoint."