Suite Cello 1-6

If I had to choose fewer than ten recordings to listen to the rest of my life Bach's Suites for Solo Cello would be one of them. I first encountered Janos Starker's rendition in the early 1970's and it competed well with the Grateful Dead and James Taylor for listening time. This later recording is even better. Serious audiophiles or academic musicologists could argue there are better and I won't debate that point. But if you want a very technically and emotionally played version of tear your heart out music, you won't be disappointed with this album.

Perfect

excellent

I have the profoundest respect for Janos Starker who was a magnificent cellist, but this, his fifth and final recording of the Bach Cello Suites, doesn’t quite hit the spot for me.There is no doubt that Starker is technically superb, his cello sounds wonderful and he has plainly thought deeply about the Cello Suites for many years. However, I find that there is a point at which interpretive phrasing can become excessive rubato which loses the flow and Bach’s essential pulse; Starker goes beyond that point too often for me. The prelude to the First Suite just doesn’t run as I would like and the wonderful prelude of the Third Suite also loses much of its flowing beauty in Starker’s slightly halting phrasing. I also found the Sarabande of the Fifth Suite (an astonishing movement) lacked a little of the depth and power I often find in it.At this level of excellence, preferences are almost purely personal and others may disagree, but I prefer other recordings including Fournier, Isserlis, Watkin, Gastinel I’ll be sticking to them.

Exquisite recording from one of the 20th century greats. If you own his earlier recordings of the cello suites, you will find it interesting to hear how his approach has evolved.

This review is not a critique of performances, but of the recorded sound quality of the luscious and complex sound of the cello. There are many great artists who have recorded the cello suites and each person will have their own preferences as to interpretation.I own 3 versions of the cello suites: Janos Starker, Pierre Fournier and Mstislav Rostropovich. All three are highly regarded interpreters of this music, but in terms of the sound of the cello, Starker's recording is by far the most rich, luscious and complex. The sound of the Rostropovich is not quite as good but still quite lovely. The Fournier, although beautifully played, is quite a bit weaker in the sound.If you have a high quality sound system and the sound of the cello itself is as important to you as the performance, you may find as I do that the Starker is the one you will prefer.

"LA version que j'attendais depuis longtemps! À presque 70 ans, une technique à faire pâlir tous les meilleurs, un son prenant car velouté mais en même temps mâle et un peu âpre (old fashion, avec des boyaux filés pour les cordes graves), une émotion contenue par une noblesse de ton exceptionnelle. Évidemment ce n'est pas très baroque, c'est au-delà, c'est juste très convaincant. Merci Mr Starker. "

バッハの無伴奏チェロ組曲を購入しようと思った時、どの演奏家のものにするかとても悩み、散々考えた末にシュタルケルのものに決めました。マイスキーの演奏は、感情が波のようにうねって前面に押し出されており、大きな感動を受けますが、うねりが大き過ぎると時折度肝を抜かれることがあり、最初に購入するのは戸惑いました。その他、カザルスやトルトゥリエも考えてはみたものの、一番ピタッときたのがシュタルケルの演奏でした。自分が感じている音楽と同じ流れで演奏されていたので、聴いていて安堵感があり、とても心地良かったのです。もちろん他の演奏家のものもそれぞれに良さがあるので、次は、かつて例が無いような大胆な解釈で演奏しているマイスキーのものを入手しようと思っていますが、当分の間は、優雅で紳士的なシュタルケルのチェロに浸るつもりです。

Although my favorite version is “The Cello Suites: Inspired by Bach” performed by Yo-Yo Ma, Starker’s interpretation is also unbeatable. For the days that need a way to break out of the loop, listen to Starker’s notes will open a door for you.