Bach Cello Suites by Starker (Mercury Living Presence)

Posted by: Pete M on 06 December 2006

I've been looking for a copy of Bach's cello suites on vinyl for ages. Ideally I was looking for Gendron on Philips or Fourniers on DG but they always go for really stupid prices on ebay. Speakers Corner have Starkers first cycle of suites on audiophile vinyl which I'm also tempted to try. Can anybody recommend these versions and what is the recording qualtiy like? Alternatively should I go for Schiff's version on EMI although its a DMM recording? They would certainly be cheaper.

Thanks in advanced.

Peter

Posted on: 06 December 2006 by Tam

Dear Pete,

I'm afraid I have only one of the discs you mention (and that only on CD). Heinrich Schiff's readings are a firm favourite of mine (no doubt helped in my mind by a wonderfully charismatic performance he gave here a few years ago - I was saddened when he didn't make it this years festival as at one stage had been planned).

However, to my desert island I would take Rostropovich (but I suspect his cannot be had on vinyl). Also, I am aware that the mannerisms are too much for some (as Fredrik and Poul will doubtless be along to testify).

While (from memory) it steers clear of vinyl, this thread may be worth a read:

http://forums.naim-audio.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/3801938...2937407?r=8112937407

regards, Tam

Posted on: 06 December 2006 by u5227470736789439

Thanks Tam for the link. I would say that is a rather nice thread at getting some idea of the nature of the various contenders' readings of the music.

Dear Pete,

Don't worry that the Fournier set makes silly money on second hand vinyl! Get the current CD issue. It is cheap, and is well recorded. Fournier is my favourite artists in this music, but a full scan of that old thread will cover it far better than one post from me!

Kindest regards from Fredrik

Posted on: 06 December 2006 by Pete M

Hi Tam

Now that was a useful link. Thanks. I forgot to mention that the version I have is Gendron's on CD but I really would so like to hear these suites on vinyl.

rgds

Peter

Posted on: 09 December 2006 by Cosmoliu

Hi Pete,

I got the Speaker's Corner re-issue about 9 months ago and it still gets fairly heavy rotation; I highly recommend it. Three of the best sounding slabs of vinyl I own (and I've been buying vinyl since the late 60s) The only other version of the suites I own is Yo Yo Ma's CD set, and two of the suites on a Jacqueline du Pre retrospective CD set, so I can't speak to the overall status of Starker in the great scheme of things.

Norman

Posted on: 09 December 2006 by pe-zulu

quote:
Originally posted by Tam:
However, to my desert island I would take Rostropovich (but I suspect his cannot be had on vinyl). Also, I am aware that the mannerisms are too much for some (as Fredrik and Poul will doubtless be along to testify).

Yes, this is hereby testified. Schiff on the other hand rests one of my first choices.
Fournier and Gendron are much the same kind, Fournier is a bit more "noble", but the Gendron set (cheap on a Philips double)is very good too. During the last years I have in between investigated versions for other instruments, usually arranged by the performer (harpsichord by Gustav Leonhardt, lute by Nigel North, viola da gamba by Paolo Pandolfo, recorder by Marion Verbrüggen, viola by Barbara Westphal, traverse flute by Wilbert Haselzet) all very rewarding and adding to the picture of the works.
Regards,

Posted on: 10 December 2006 by Chris Shorter

I have a vinyl version of the Tortelier on EMI that is very good with bags of character and presence. I've noticed that they regularly crop up on Ebay and go for £10 or so.