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Music : Bach - Cello Suites / Steven Isserlis
1 2
Rating: 
- Steven Isserlis has re-invented Bach's Cello Suites
This is the finest recording of Bach's Cello Suites I have ever heard. Visceral, articulate, masterful phrasing, ornamentation and dynamics. Vivacious and delicious, the Cello Suites have been re-invented within the same architecture. Part of what makes it so visceral is that you can hear Mr. Isserlis's left hand fingers as they do their business up and down the cello neck. I also suspect that the use of gut strings makes a difference. Track 7 of Disc 2, the Prelude of Cello Suite 6 in D is particularly exquisite. The whole recording is terrific, though.
Rating: - stupendous
I heard the 6th suite in a radio broadcast and immediately wanted more, and when I finally got around to buying these discs I was not disappointed. I'm not sure what it is about this recording that is so good: Isserlis purely performs what Bach wrote, it is never overly flashy.
The golden tone colour heard throughout is extremely seductive, and the tempi, often quite fast in the quick movements, is perfect to my ears. However the gorgeous slow movements add depth to the recordings and balance out the tempo.
Unlike some other reviewers who seem to have every recording of the suites ever made I only have one other: that of Paul Tortelier. For me, this is streaks ahead. There is a compassion and a tenderness in Isserlis' suites that seems to be lacking in Tortelier's. I'm not sure what Rostropovich sounds like, but after listening to this outstanding release I'm not really that interested.
Rating: - A magnificent recording
I have loved the Bach Cello Suites ever since I was an almost talent-free teenage cellist getting on for 40 years ago, and in that time I have heard (and often bought) wonderful recordings by some of the world's very greatest cellists including Casals, Tortelier, Fournier and Yo-Yo Ma. Isserlis's recording stands with the very best of them. He is a magnificent musician and has thought and studied for years before tackling the Bach Suites. This shows in his delightful involvement in the music, the way the dances really dance when they should and how the very soul of the music and of Bach shines through what he does. Joy, sorrow, beauty and passion are all beautifully evoked, and it's all exactly appropriate - no flashy tricks or dodgy imposition of things which aren't really there. There is just a deep understanding and love of Bach's music. The whole thing is a monumental pleasure.
The accompanying notes are extremely interesting. They show both the depth of Isserlis's scholarship and his thoughtfulness about the Suites. I particularly like the section headed "A personal feeling (definitely not a theory!)" in which he suggests that the suites may be seen as akin to Mystery Sonatas - an interesting and thought-provoking viewpoint, which never interferes with the music itself.
The recording quality is excellent. It is miked very close, giving an intimate feel - so intimate that you can hear the slap of Isserlis's fingers in the livelier parts. I love the sense this gives of his being in the room with you, and the sound of his cello is simply lovely throughout.
In the face of the greatness of some of the recordings which have preceded this one, I couldn't say this was definitive, nor even that it was my absolute favourite. But then I couldn't say that of any of the others either. I do know that if I had to choose just one recording to live with, this would be a very strong contender. Very highly recommended indeed.
Rating: - A magnificent achievement.
This is a truly remarkable performance which has even eclipsed the revered Casals recording in my affections. There are aspects of it which catch the familiar listener off-guard, not least the extremely slow sarabandes which are clearly part of the interpretative license Isserlis takes. (There are, in fact, few markings in the score to indicate the speed, or so I believe, so ultimately I guess it is a question of how the individual listener is convinced, moved, or carried away by the approach.) I find the music making utterly involving. Over and over I find myself pausing in whatever I might be doing and completely taken over by the beauty of playing and the music, which is what good playing serves. This is not 'show off' music-making, but sublime. What a wonderful thing Isserlis has presented his father to celebrate his 90th year!
Rating: - Bach: The Cello Suites
This recording is worth EVERY PENNY!
Even if you're not into 'classical' music GET THESE CD's and be inspired by music that's lasted over 250 years and is still going strong.
Enjoy!
- Steven Isserlis has re-invented Bach's Cello SuitesThis is the finest recording of Bach's Cello Suites I have ever heard. Visceral, articulate, masterful phrasing, ornamentation and dynamics. Vivacious and delicious, the Cello Suites have been re-invented within the same architecture. Part of what makes it so visceral is that you can hear Mr. Isserlis's left hand fingers as they do their business up and down the cello neck. I also suspect that the use of gut strings makes a difference. Track 7 of Disc 2, the Prelude of Cello Suite 6 in D is particularly exquisite. The whole recording is terrific, though.
Rating:
- stupendousI heard the 6th suite in a radio broadcast and immediately wanted more, and when I finally got around to buying these discs I was not disappointed. I'm not sure what it is about this recording that is so good: Isserlis purely performs what Bach wrote, it is never overly flashy.
The golden tone colour heard throughout is extremely seductive, and the tempi, often quite fast in the quick movements, is perfect to my ears. However the gorgeous slow movements add depth to the recordings and balance out the tempo.
Unlike some other reviewers who seem to have every recording of the suites ever made I only have one other: that of Paul Tortelier. For me, this is streaks ahead. There is a compassion and a tenderness in Isserlis' suites that seems to be lacking in Tortelier's. I'm not sure what Rostropovich sounds like, but after listening to this outstanding release I'm not really that interested.
Rating:
- A magnificent recordingI have loved the Bach Cello Suites ever since I was an almost talent-free teenage cellist getting on for 40 years ago, and in that time I have heard (and often bought) wonderful recordings by some of the world's very greatest cellists including Casals, Tortelier, Fournier and Yo-Yo Ma. Isserlis's recording stands with the very best of them. He is a magnificent musician and has thought and studied for years before tackling the Bach Suites. This shows in his delightful involvement in the music, the way the dances really dance when they should and how the very soul of the music and of Bach shines through what he does. Joy, sorrow, beauty and passion are all beautifully evoked, and it's all exactly appropriate - no flashy tricks or dodgy imposition of things which aren't really there. There is just a deep understanding and love of Bach's music. The whole thing is a monumental pleasure.
The accompanying notes are extremely interesting. They show both the depth of Isserlis's scholarship and his thoughtfulness about the Suites. I particularly like the section headed "A personal feeling (definitely not a theory!)" in which he suggests that the suites may be seen as akin to Mystery Sonatas - an interesting and thought-provoking viewpoint, which never interferes with the music itself.
The recording quality is excellent. It is miked very close, giving an intimate feel - so intimate that you can hear the slap of Isserlis's fingers in the livelier parts. I love the sense this gives of his being in the room with you, and the sound of his cello is simply lovely throughout.
In the face of the greatness of some of the recordings which have preceded this one, I couldn't say this was definitive, nor even that it was my absolute favourite. But then I couldn't say that of any of the others either. I do know that if I had to choose just one recording to live with, this would be a very strong contender. Very highly recommended indeed.
Rating:
- A magnificent achievement.This is a truly remarkable performance which has even eclipsed the revered Casals recording in my affections. There are aspects of it which catch the familiar listener off-guard, not least the extremely slow sarabandes which are clearly part of the interpretative license Isserlis takes. (There are, in fact, few markings in the score to indicate the speed, or so I believe, so ultimately I guess it is a question of how the individual listener is convinced, moved, or carried away by the approach.) I find the music making utterly involving. Over and over I find myself pausing in whatever I might be doing and completely taken over by the beauty of playing and the music, which is what good playing serves. This is not 'show off' music-making, but sublime. What a wonderful thing Isserlis has presented his father to celebrate his 90th year!
Rating:
- Bach: The Cello SuitesThis recording is worth EVERY PENNY!
Even if you're not into 'classical' music GET THESE CD's and be inspired by music that's lasted over 250 years and is still going strong.
Enjoy!