Britten, Marriner: Bach – Brandenburg Concertos 1-6 (2 CD, APE)

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Orchestra: Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields, English Chamber Orchestra
Conductor: Neville Marriner, Benjamin Britten
Audio CD
SPARS Code: ADD
Number of Discs: 2 CD
Label: Decca
Size: 591 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

CD 01
Brandenburg Concerto No. 1 in F major, BWV 1046
01. Allegaro
02. Adagio
03. Allegro
04. Menuetto: Trio 1
05. Polacca: Trio 2

Brandenburg Concerto No. 2 in F major, BWV 1047
06. Allegro
07. Andante
08. Allegro assai

Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
09. Allegro
10. Allegro

Brandenburg Concerto No. 4 in G major, BWV 1049
11. Allegro
12. Andante
13. Presto

CD 02
Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D major, BWV 1050
01. Allegro
02. Andante
03. Presto

Brandenburg Concerto No. 6 in B flat major, BWV 1051
04. Moderato
05. Adagio ma non tanto
06. Allegro

Concerto for oboe & violin (or 2 violins), strings & continuo (reconstruction), BWV 1060R
07. Allegro
08. Adagio
09. Allegro

Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 5 in F minor, BWV 1056
10. Allegro moderato
11. Largo
12. Presto

Fine Performance on Modern Instruments

If recorders, natural trumpets, etc., are important to you in performances of Bach’s music, stay away from this performance. If, however, you like transcriptions, Bach played on the piano, etc., I can whole-heartedly recommend this recording.
The performances here use flutes, trumpets with pistons, etc. I expect that the violins have the longer necks that have been in use since the nineteenth century, and that many other canons of authentic baroque performance are violated. These are not, however, the lushc, romantic performances common in the 1960s. The tempi are slower than typically used today, but not much. The performing group is relatively small. The violinists employ vibrato sparingly.
Most important, Britten conducts with a great understanding of and love for the music, and the musicians play wonderfully.
And, of course, the set is a bargain.