101 Blu-ray / Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos
Johann Sebastian Bach
Six Brandenburg Concertos
BWV 1046-1051
Complete Edition
Stuttgarter Kammerorchester
TACET Real Surround Sound & stereo
EAN/barcode: 4009850010159
Diese Produktion als Download kaufen (nur Mehrkanal)
Description
This was and still is the first multi-channel recording in TACET Real Surround Sound, recorded in the year 2000. Shortly prior to the construction of the microphones, the idea arose of selecting a special arrangement for each one of the six Brandenburg Concertos in accordance with the respective score. This principle became the cornerstone of Real Surround Sound. The primitive 8-track card (from today's perspective) in the PC forced us to acoustically realise the six different, novel mixes with a stereo mixing console right when the recording was made. Today, however, a recording PC houses an entire factory with which almost each detail can be processed afterwards. In the adjoining room in the church where the recording took place, we set up a party tent and placed a carpet over it in order to be able to evaluate the multi-channel sound despite the excess reverberation of the sacristy. Thus began TACET's exciting journey of discovery into a new, so far unknown world. The recording was immediately convincing. "The musical experience is being elevated here to a level previously thought to be impossible. This is the high end in the year 2001", as the commentary on it by Stereoplay concluded.
The music is fantastic. The tempi of Benjamin Hudson, the solos by Reinhold Friedrich (trumpet), for example, the whole swing of this music - all this keeps the listener, who has meanwhile become immersed in the multi-channel sound, completely glued to his seat.
Alongside SACD and DVD audio (as well as CD and LP in stereo), this recording is now also available on Blu-ray disc (multi-channel and stereo).
3 reviews for 101 Blu-ray / Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Brandenburg Concertos
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Classical CD Choice –
TACET’s unique recordings of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos by the Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra have already been released on SACD as a two-disc. The re-release of all six concertos on a single Blu-ray audio disc with a playing time of 94′ 39” minutes will be a tempting prospect for those who admire TACET’s philosophy of placing the listener at the centre of the performance and utilising the full capabilities of multi-channel sound.
These Stuttgart performances were originally recorded in 2000 and first issued, I believe, in the now virtually defunct DVD-A format disc before release on SACD and now Blu-ray audio. Choice between multi-channel (default) and stereo layers is made using respectively the red or yellow buttons on the player’s remote control. Though the information on the disc case states ‘TACET Real Surround 5.1′ it is in fact 4.1 as there is no use of the centre channel.
The recordings were made in the small baroque church in the village of Gönningen in Baden-Wurttemberg whose clear acoustic suits these works perfectly. Five different instrumental layouts are used and the benefit each of these bring to the clarity of Bach’s contrapuntal writing is immense. The ear can focus on individual instrumental lines with ease while at the same time the overall body of sound remains coherent. These accounts of the Brandenburgs from the superb Stuttgart Chamber Orchestra are unfailingly excellent. They perform on modern instruments, but with the addition of a harpsichord engagingly played by Robert Aldwinckle. These are in no way ‘old-fashioned’ – tempi are brisk but not frenetic, and the various members of the orchestra communicate a sense of absolute technical confidence and refinement of tone.
Some will miss the bright sound of recorders in the 4th Concerto but the crisp and beautifully articulated playing of the two flautists, Natalie Schwaabe and Andreas Schmidt, is a delight. There are countless versions of these joyous masterpieces on record – performed in widely different interpretative styles and utilising varying degrees of scholarship – to suit every taste. Those, however, who are unconvinced by the sounds of some of the more adrenalin-fuelled, wiry and acidulous sounding period groups in these works – where all too often displays of virtuosity take precedence over more lasting musical values – should find this disc a most refreshing alternative.
Graham Williams
Audiophile Audition –
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This was reviewed by Ronald Legum both on SACD and DVD-Audio way back in 2005. He, a complete “Brandenburg junkie” as he says, liked it quite a bit—I might like them even better. These are stylish, energetic but not manic, and beautifully played and recorded (in 2000, actually). We reviewed a DVD-Audio version as well, though I did not hear that one.
Unfortunately, this is 4.0 surround, not 5.1. When I first heard it I thought my other speakers were out, so I double-checked and fixed the connections again—no luck. So I put on another recently recorded Blu-ray 5.1 audio, and sure enough the middle speaker came to life! Tacet offers only limited options in setup, and after listening to the disc several times, the 5.1 just ain’t there. [The “Real Surround Sound” refers to the surround channels not being just rear ambience, but carrying specific instruments so that the chamber orchestra really surrounds you…Ed.]
Aside from the misleading blurb about the sound however, I still find the 4.0 perfectly satisfying and excellently enveloping, and can’t imagine the 5.1 being much better, so for that alone and the spectacular performances I still give it five stars. But—if you have the SACD don’t run out for this one as you might be disappointed. But one way or another, get these marvelous readings. [This one is unusual in that the Blu-ray is actually cheaper than the SACD—usually it’s the other way around. It is because the 94-min. length allows a single disc (also on the DVD-A version) whereas the SACD version requires two. Also, we have consistently found the SACD version to sound slightly superior to the Blu-ray if they don’t sound identical…Ed.]
Steven Ritter
Pizzicato –
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It is always a pleasure to hear Bach on modern instruments. When the playing is as exquisite and spirited as in these recordings, it is pure joy. The 2000 recordings are, of course, familiar; what is new is the audio format: Tacet now releases them on a Blu-ray Pure Audio, naturally in Real Surround. To make the listening experience even more varied, the surround settings change from concerto to concerto. In BWV 1046, the orchestra is positioned in front of the listener, with only the ambience coming from behind, capturing the wonderful acoustics of the Baroque church in Gönningen where the recordings were made.
In BWV 1047, the listener is seated within the orchestra; in BWV 1048, the violins are on the left, the cellos on the right, and the violas in front. In concertos 1049 and 1050, the recording technology places the orchestra behind the listener, with the soloists in front, while in the last of the six works, the solo violas sit in front and behind, the other instruments to the sides. Listening in every case is fascinating. The sound is strikingly clear and rich, even in the bass, and entirely uncolored. Music should always sound this natural, whether it comes from all around or just from the front.
Remy Franck