Bach; J.S. Orchestral Suites; BWV 1066-1069 Münchener Bach-Chor

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): Suite No.1 In C, BWV 1066
• 1 1. Ouverture 08:16
• 2 2. Courante 02:27
• 3 3. Gavotte I-II 03:23
• 4 4. Forlane 01:58
• 5 5. Menuet I-II 03:06
• 6 6. Bourrée I-II 02:38
• 7 7. Passepied I-II 03:35
• Suite No.2 In B Minor, BWV 1067
• 8 1. Ouverture 09:18
• 9 2. Rondeau 01:55
• 10 3. Sarabande 03:59
• 11 4. Bourrée I-II 02:06
• 12 5. Polonaise 03:30
• 13 6. Menuet 01:28
• 14 7. Badinerie 01:39
• Suite No.3 In D, BWV 1068
• 15 1. Ouverture 09:08
• 16 2. Air 05:45
• 17 3. Gavotte I-II 04:04
• 18 4. Bourrée 01:15
• 19 5. Gigue 03:14
• 20 1. Ouverture 09:51
• 21 2. Bourrée I-II 03:02
• 22 3. Gavotte 02:00
• 23 4. Menuet I-II 03:37
• 24 5. Réjouissance 02:44
• Total Runtime 01:33:58

Info for Bach; J.S. Orchestral Suites; BWV 1066-1069

Karl Richter’s recordings of Bach’s orchestral and sacred music influenced an entire generation of musicians and listeners, presenting the conductor’s unique sound and style. When Richter recorded Bach’s works, he freed them from a ponderous tradition that had mired the music in romantic sounds and idiom. Richter lightened Bach’s music, and, with an orchestra of outstanding musicians, helped bring it toward the more modern interpretations that listeners have become familiar with today. This is still a bit far from the historically-informed performances that are pretty much the norm, but there is a unity and natural originality that comes through the music in these recordings.

This set includes Richter’s excellent recordings of the Brandenburg concertos, the Orchestral Suites, and the Triple Concerto for flute, violin, harpsichord and strings. In the Brandenburgs, Richter provides a light, airy sound for the strings, very different from what was common in the 1960s. His tempi, relatively quick, give the music vigour it had not known perhaps for some 200 years. The instruments take their rightful place here as soloists in an ensemble, and the balance among them is exemplary. Rare indeed, even today, are the conductors who manage to play the Second Concerto with such joy and brio as Richter. Each instrument - the trumpet, the flute, and the oboe - stands out perfectly in the first movement, with its brilliantly lively tempo. The contrast of the second movement, andante, is excellent, and the trumpet shines again as the third movement opens, in this delightful performance.

Richter’s Orchestral Suites are much denser than the Brandenburgs, and the tempi more 'standard'. He reads these more as symphonies than suites, but, then again, he puts his own imprimatur on the music. They sound a bit too German, and not French enough for my taste, but one cannot ignore that these performances are full of deep spirit and thought.

All in all, this is a first class set, and one which deserves its place in the history of Bach recordings. It is great to see that Archiv has re-released these recordings in their Originals series. While this is not the 'best' recording of these works (is it even possible to consider that any recording of them could be perfect?), it is beautiful and moving. At this mid-price, this is certainly worth owning for fans of Bach and those who appreciate Richter’s unique style.“ (Kirk McElhearn, MusicWeb International)

Aurèle Nicolet, flute
Adolf Scherbaum, trummpet
Münchener Bach-Orchester
Karl Richter, conductor

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Booklet for Bach; J.S. Orchestral Suites; BWV 1066-1069