Finally got me my promos of the first installment of the Hanssler
Classic Complete Bach Edition. WTC, Cello Suites, Sons & Partitas Violin,
Clavierubung III, Art of the Fugue, a few chamber works, and a bunch of
cantatas. Heard the Sons and Partitas, Cello Suites are next. I'll try to
give updates as I hear things. I am not as fluent in different versions as
others so my comparisons are not that useful (you'll just have to wait).
However I figured y'all would want to know performers, etc on different
instrumental works (all the orch & choral stuff is Rilling AFAIK).
Violin Sonatas & Partitas by Dmitri Sitkovetsky
Cello Suites by Boris Pergamenshikov (Pergamenschikow)
These guys are well-enough known, and they're new recordings and
performances AFAIK. I think I have a Shosty 3rd Vn Concerto with
Sitkovetsky that I like but I'll have to check.
I was working while listening, so in brief: I'll say that the Sons &
Partitas are in good, clear digital sound with lots of resonance. His
playing seems technically very good. The fugue in Sonata 1 stood out as
exceptional to me. I'm not a string expert but I do have a few intonation
issues, mostly in bare, exposed single notes, not in the double- and
triple-stops which is usually where I have a problem (i.e. Paganini
Caprices Op. 1 played out of tune are intolerable). Maybe he spent too
much time on the hard stuff? Anyway, I enjoyed them thoroughly and will
hear them again.
Plus they're in the correct order. I don't have a CD changer at all, so
I hate it when they rearrange the Sons & Partitas for some reason. DO NOT
put all the sonatas on CD 1!!! *I* want to hear Son 1 first, as it serves
(for me) as an introduction to the whole cycle; and Partita 3 last. Duh.
Liner notes in 4 languages, all essays the same I think. Nice enough
presentation. Total time on the Sons & Partitas (for those who keep
notes)= 2:13:33
Ahhh. Looks like it's Bach for me all afternoon. Guess I'll be forced
to skip 'All Things Considered.' Damn.
Bob K.
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