The Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra - Four Bach Suites

Rating:
Summary: Essential Bach
Review: I never had on CD a completely satisfying version of these works. Listening to Munchinger and Marriner, I had ever the feeling that something was wrong: it was a nice way to play JS Bach, but not an authentic way.
Well, I found this way here. With a small team, but all excelent players (including himself at the harpsichord), Koopman plays Bach in all of its courtly refinement and richess of joy. In the first Ouverture, they are very good. In the last two, with a medium-size band, they are excellent. But the best here is the second suite: the flute soloist (Wilbert Hazelzet, I think - there isn't individual credits) is a great artist, and the team plays at his best.
This DVD and the Brandenburgs, with the Freiburgers, are an excellent Bach couple. In both, great sound and image quality, and two beautiful venues.

Rating:
Summary: Beautiful Suites
Review: These suites are popular in the EC and my affection for them dates to the Argo (Decca) label's release many many years ago on LP.That was a modern instrument version by Neville Marriner (long before a knighthood was thought of).
The performance on DVD is 'authentic' but not sterile as some of that format are prone.
5.1 is very spacious as recorded live?
Colour and bit rate are very good, nearly as good as it gets.
Most listeners will know the Air from suite 3 (BWV 1068)
Bach,J.S. has much to offer the first time listener to classical music here.
I was unable to understand the lack of individual player credits. I noted Ku Ebbinge on 1st Oboe, who like the director of this DVD, Reiner Hilhorst worked on the Mozart 'Gran Partita' 13 wind instrument seranade produced by Philips on LD back in 1988 conducted by Frans Bruggen, again a NOS-Production.
Hand waving seems to plague the authentic school, and Ton Koopman is no exception, but is at least restrained by a need to play the harpsicord.
For my audio tastes, I miss the total lush ambience of Marriner in this version but it is still the ultimate 'chill' music going.
This is one that may disappear out of production and the catalogue simply because is not well known is the USA. Get it now!