Suzuki: Bach – Overtures “The 4 Orchestral Suites” (2 CD, FLAC)

Orchestra: Bach Collegium Japan
Conductor: Masaaki Suzuki
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Audio CD
Number of Discs: 2
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: BIS
Size: 504 MB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes

Disc: 1
01. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: I. Ouverture
02. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: II. Air
03. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: III. Gavotte I – II – I
04. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: IV. Bourrée
05. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: V. Gigue
06. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: I. Ouverture
07. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: II. Courante
08. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: III. Gavotee I – II – I
09. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: IV. Forlane
10. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: V. Menuet I – II – I
11. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: VI. Bourrée I – II – I
12. Orchestral Suite No. 1 in C major, BWV 1066: VII. Passepied I – II – I
13. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: I. Ouverture
14. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: II. Rondeau
15. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: III. Sarabande
16. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: IV. Bourrée I – II – I
17. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: V. Polonaise – Double – Polonaise
18. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: VI. Menuet
19. Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067: VII. Badinerie

Disc: 2
01. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: I. Ouverture
02. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: II. Bourrée I – II – I
03. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: III. Gavotte
04. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: IV. Menuet I – II – I
05. Orchestral Suite No. 4 in D major, BWV 1069: V. Réjouissance

East meets West – and the Best!

The tyranny of distance holds no sway with these performances. Bach came home with many influences from the French and Italian baroque, well illustrated here – but perhaps Suzuki has come home with the man himself!
Amid the influences of the art of Western Protestantism in his own country, Suzuki traveled and studied in Europe, we are told, then returned to his native land to resume both a practical and academic career. His creations, together with his small but highly skilled band, have provided endless hours of pleasure.
As one gazes upon the beauty of both the music and performance one is aware of a sense of something very new and fresh. I have listened on the radio from time to time to a few of the group’s recordings, but only in passing and never to the whole experience as presented here on these discs.
It dawns on one as time passes that these performances are something very special, a true and sensitive blend of the visual and auditory experience. One is reminded of the superlatives that can express the beauty of Eastern art forms, such that have always captured the hearts of the European middle classes from the early days of European contact. And that tradition continues here.
There is an excellent set of notes provided on the music, the orchestra and their leader.
My only regret is that the second disc is so short. Plenty of space here for a filler, and what a gem it could have been!