Two Miles High Music

The Brandenburg Concertos seem to be Bach's most popular works by far, and there are so many recordings of them out there--on period instruments and "modern," and at all price ranges. Of course, it's hard to pick out one or even two to call the "best"--but this reissue of a 1989 recording by the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment has a good claim for the title of "Best Buy Brandenburgs." These performances don't have the splashy extroversion of Il Giardino Armonico or the caffeine-pumped, high-velocity thrill of Musica Antiqua Köln, but they're not overly reserved or dull, as some English ensembles are accused of being. The OAE's instrumental playing is very skillful indeed, with particularly nice work from the horns in the third movement of the First Concerto, and from trumpeter Mark Bennett in the Second; and the tempos are moderately quick (which means that they would have been considered rather fast before 1980 or so), but without being breathless. The slow movements sing sweetly--the viola playing of Monica Huggett and Pavlo Besnosiuk in the slow movement of the Sixth Concerto is especially lovely--and the quick outer movements have an infectiously bouncy pulse. If money is no object, you might want to consider Il Giardino Armonico or the Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, but these here are surely the best Brandenburgs available at such a low price. --Matthew Westphal

BACH:BRANDENBURG CTOS 1-6 - Blu-Ray Movie

Originally recorded in 1991 for Naïve, this set of Bach s Brandenburg Concertos is one of the finest in the Bach discography. Savall takes a more lyrical and less frenetic approach than is often found in period-instrument recordings. Now available as a multi-channel SACD, Le Concert des Nations sounds richer and more colorful than ever. And as you have come to expect from Alia Vox, this carefully remastered reissue is offered in a luxurious double digipak with extensive documentation.

If you're familiar with Alessandrini and his sparkling period instrument ensemble you expect interpretations featuring rhythmic drive, colorful playing, and original insights. Those characteristics are what help make this version of Bach's perennial and oft-recorded Brandenburg Concertos so compelling. Tempos are generally on the fast side, but never overly swift, while slow movements have just the right touch of soulfulness. Virtually without exception, the solo bits are done with imaginative, fluent expertise, and Gabriele Cassone’s rendition of the famous trumpet part of the Second Brandenburg provides musical thrills, as well as virtuoso ones. Alessandrini himself takes us on a wild ride through the Fifth Concerto’s brilliant harpsichord cadenza. --Dan Davis

This first-rate set of Brandenburg Concertos (with its companion containing Concertos 1, 2, and 3) offers stylish, mostly modern-instrument performances that remain faithful to the spirit of Bach's scores--recorders are used in No. 4, harpsichord in No. 5, and viols in No. 6--while exploiting the brilliant timbre of 20th century strings. In 1980, Sir Neville Marriner was one of the gods of Baroque and classical period music, and this disc shows why. --David Vernier