Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Helmuth Rilling, Bach Collegium Stuttgart :: Bach: Violin Concertos

Where Bach dabblers are concerned, surely the best thing about Hännsler's Complete Bach Edition is the option to buy individual discs separately. While you can't expect every one of the 200-odd releases to be must-buys, this disc of the three violin concertos contains strong performances, moving your heart at all the right bits. Lively tempos and variation in tone color and dynamics make these enjoyable listening. The interpretation as a modern-instrument recording is tasteful, vibrato being applied sparingly rather than drenching the whole texture. The merits of the slow movements here lie in their restraint (in the Double Concerto, almost tantalizingly so); BWV 1042's C sharp minor elegy, glistening with icy beauty, is the highlight of the disc. Poppen is, generally, in sparkling form; only the occasional lapse in ensemble or tuning reminds us that these popular pieces are by no means easy. Those willing to splash out a bit more would do well to head for Anne-Sophie Mutter's more sedentary-paced version. With so many top-quality versions on sale, what this disc will stand out most for is its price, although the concertos' lean 42-plus minutes does leave you wishing for more. --Abigail Frymann