Freiburger Barockorchester - Bach: Complete Orchestral Suites (2011)

I was recently amused to read a review that mentioned the “ancient” recordings of the Bach suites conducted by Neville Marriner. Like most of us who have heard them, I have enjoyed that readily available recording for decades, but I’ve spent even more time with the recording conducted by Yehudi Menuhin, which is older still. Of course neither of those vibrant renditions, beautifully played though they are, is performed on period instruments. Since then, we have had fine recordings by Martin Pearlman and his Boston Baroque, and we Bostonians have been able to hear these pieces live as well. Still, I can’t recommend highly enough the exquisitely recorded, detailed and energetic recordings by the Freiburg Baroque Orchestra. The suites appear on two discs, and include the repeats omitted by those who present them on one. More importantly, the playing is also exquisite, and the orchestra easily conveys the music’s varying styles, the slight pomp of the overture to the Suite in D Major, for instance, where the trumpets play majestically over rolls by the timpani. I am impressed by what I’ll call the lack of excess in those moments; the trumpets punctuate but don’t overwhelm the strings. The tempos are brisk, but not rushed. The more tender movements for the reeds are equally satisfying. I give the prize for the balance, detail, and clarity of recording to this new collection, even over Pearlman’s.