Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Jakob Lindberg :: Bach: Lute Music

LYRICAL, LILTING, LOVELY LUTE

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 09/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've been sorely plagued by the fact that I've never had what I would consider a true appreciation of Bach's solo lute works. When younger, I traversed the recordings of Bream, Williams, some Segovia, but nothing hit home. It all sounded pendantic and boring to me. Nothing hit the heart. My discovery of Lindberg's two-CD BIS set has been a source of constant joy and pleasure for weeks. I've been astonished by what I've heard. Lindberg captures every mood, every nuance Bach has to offer. There is absolutely nothing perfunctory here. A listen to the Sarabandes from the Suite in E Minor (BWV 996) or C Minor (BWV 997) will quickly and permanently silence criticism. I have nothing but the deepest respect for an artist, like Lindberg, who can peel back the layers of music that may be, under less sensitive fingers, simply dull and academic. Lindberg's Bach is sweet revelation. These discs are a wondrous calmative. Lindberg proves the perfect advocate, and the sound provided him by BIS, as well, is exemplary.



[Running time--- CD 1: 66:19 CD 2: 43:42]



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Wonderfully musical performances

Melvyn M. Sobel | 02/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is to my mind the most satisfying of any set of the Bach lute suites, whether played on lute or guitar. The BIS recording is exemplory, the baroque lute by Michael Lowe has a clear, sweet sound, and Lindberg's performances are at once thoughtful, sober, and at the same time, lyrical, elegant, and never lacking in passion or commitment. While some might find there is an air of neutrality about the interprations, one comes back to these performances with increased satisfaction and the lack of mannerism or idiosycracy makes this the perfect set for repeated listening."

Good, clean, no-risks performance.

Gary J. Wright | San Francisco, CA United States | 10/15/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Lindberg's playing is remarkably clean, free of any distracting mechanical noises and expertly executed. The recording is a little bright, but generally this is a very good set that is only in need of a degree more adventure from Lindberg. Players like Hopkinson Smith and Rolf Lislevand make more personal statements with their versions of these works, yet Lindberg will appeal to those who like their Bach played straightforwardly and without fuss."