This exciting disc makes a very welcome return to the catalog on Naxos. In the Sonata BWV 1023, Ilkka Talvi proves a sensitive and musicianly soloist as well. However, the real treat is Elgar�s arrangement of the Fantasia and Fugue in C minor BWV 537. It�s insane. In the fugue, next to Elgar�s tambourine, glockenspiel, harp glissandos, and looney trumpet licks, Stokowski�s Bach might as well be the work of a period-instrument specialist. It�s wonderful, and Gerard Schwarz gets his players to blast their way through the piece with total conviction. Buy it and love it. --ClassicsToday.com, April 2012
This is a delightful hour of listening, and for those of you who are weary of �historically-informed� Bach, this could be your disc of the year! In the liner-notes Keith Anderson quotes Elgar�s reasoning for his transcription of the Fantasia and Fugue in C Minor: �to show how gorgeous and great and brilliant he [Bach] would have made himself sound if he had had our means.� Surely Respighi�s intent was the same. Whatever their intent, they have created fantastically exuberant and colorful orchestrations of some of Bach�s greatest works.
The CD begins rather gently with the Tre Corali�As in his Ancient Airs and Dances, Respighi remains truthful to the original source material, fashioning timbral combinations that were simply not available to Bach. The Seattle orchestra plays with a warm, plush sound, making Bach�s writing sound positively romantic in origin.
The CD concludes with three splendidly lavish arrangements. Respighi�s transcription of the D Major Prelude and Fugue is for a large orchestra�Here Respighi�s complete mastery of orchestration is readily apparent. Colors shift from one line to the next, sometimes highlighting the fugue subject, at other times drawing our attention to a particularly beautiful counter-subject. I grew up listening to these two pieces on the organ, and I feel sure that such familiarity only adds to my enjoyment of Respighi�s craft. Halfway through the Passacaglia I realized my face was a little sore from grinning for the last several minutes�a sure sign that I was completely taken with both the transcription and performance.
Seattle and Schwarz offer accomplished and enjoyable performances, in very good sound, gathered together on a CD at budget price. --MusicWeb International, June 2012
The CD begins rather gently with the Tre Corali�As in his Ancient Airs and Dances, Respighi remains truthful to the original source material, fashioning timbral combinations that were simply not available to Bach. The Seattle orchestra plays with a warm, plush sound, making Bach�s writing sound positively romantic in origin.
The CD concludes with three splendidly lavish arrangements. Respighi�s transcription of the D Major Prelude and Fugue is for a large orchestra�Here Respighi�s complete mastery of orchestration is readily apparent. Colors shift from one line to the next, sometimes highlighting the fugue subject, at other times drawing our attention to a particularly beautiful counter-subject. I grew up listening to these two pieces on the organ, and I feel sure that such familiarity only adds to my enjoyment of Respighi�s craft. Halfway through the Passacaglia I realized my face was a little sore from grinning for the last several minutes�a sure sign that I was completely taken with both the transcription and performance.
Seattle and Schwarz offer accomplished and enjoyable performances, in very good sound, gathered together on a CD at budget price. --MusicWeb International, June 2012
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