Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Salvatore Accardo, English Chamber Orchestra :: Bach: Violin Concertos in A major, D minor & A minor; Mutter, Accardo

Master and Disciple Failing Together

Octavius | United States | 10/19/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I was not impressed at all with this performance from master and disciple together and I would say this is ironically the worst for both of them and their both playing together. I would look at other performances before buying this one.



Accardo is not really a Bach specialist any more than Manze is a Vivaldi specialist. Accardo's interpretation sounded like a Vivaldi solo as opposed the mechanically precise works of Bach. Mutter is more proficient in symphonic works from the Romantic period onwards but not Baroque in general. Mutter performed as if she was playing the bare bones of a Bach sonata here and there was simply no life to her performance: it was rather tedious instead. It seemed as if both players were unsure who was going to lead or whether to play in the Italian instead of the German style. It's almost as if Accardo is telling Mutter to take lead in the fashion of baby steps and and she just doesn't get it thereby wrecking the whole performance. The recording quality isn't particularly great either.



This performance is definitely one for the vaults and I hate to do this because Accardo is one of my favorite virtuosos. He shines in Italian Baroque groups such as I Musici and he excells in Paganini with Dutoit but not here with Mutter and Bach: it's just not his style and it sounds like it. As for Mutter, I've heard several performances with her and I find her to be talented but somewhat overrated: she wouldn't be my first choice for lead violin in general and she would be one of my last for Baroque."

My favorite recording of the Bach violin concertos to date

Wings42 | San Diego, CA United States | 01/11/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Each of us brings our own biases, aesthetic sense, listening history, and expectations to every piece of music we listen to, so I won't insult Mr. Zaleski or question his integrity or judgment in rating this great recording one star, but his appraisal does this recording and prospective purchasers a disservice in my opinion. I also specialize in Baroque music, and this is my favorite recording of the Bach violin concertos to date.



The tempos are perfect to my ear, neither too fast nor too slow. Both Ms. Mutter and Mr. Accardo play with amazing accuracy, ease, joy, and clarity of tone. The English Chamber Orchestra is spot on as usual. There is no romanticizing of the music. By that, I mean the tempo and volume are even in each movement, vibrato is not excessive at all, glissando and other romantic techniques are properly absent, and the Baroque "pulse" is clearly there as Bach intended. The sound quality of the entire album is startlingly clear, bright, and warm at first listening, and at the 25th listening.



I bought this album as an anniversary gift for my wife when it first came out almost 20 years ago. She has kept it in her car ever since. We still enjoy listening to this album from time to time. We've listened to other recordings of our beloved Bach violin concertos as they show up on classical music stations or Rhapsody music service. We have yet to hear as good or better recording of these concertos.



This album is a wonderful introduction to the violin genius of Anne-Sophie Mutter and Salvadore Accardo, and to the genius of Bach at his most lyrical and accessible.



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