At Last Bach Really Hits the Spot

Most of Glenn Gould's recordings are wonderful, especially the early ones. Also check out Wanda Landowska- she is the matriarch of the historical performance movement and recorded some very interesting performances.

A few more you may enjoy:

1. Bach: Trio Sonatas, Purcell Quartet, Chandos.
2. Bach: Violin Concertos and Double Concertos, Arthur Grumiaux, Philips.
3. Ignazio Albertini: Sonates Pour Violon & Basse Continue, Helene Schmitt, Alpha.
4. Corelli: Violin Sonatas, Andrew Manze, Harmonia Mundi.
5. Corelli: 12 Concerti Grossi, English Concert/Trevor Pinnock, Archive.
6. Bach: Art of Fugue, Emerson Quartet, Deutsche Grammophone. (A bit heavier than the rest, but glorious!)

Enjoy!

You meant you are interested in quality Bach in general. Besides the Manze/Podger disc, consider these excellent recordings:

For the violin sonatas, again look at Carmignola on Sony (SK 89469).

For chamber music (Brandenburg Concertos, etc.), Cafe Zimmermann's three volumes on the French label Alpha (Alpha 013, 048, and 071).

For orchestral music, the recent Pearlman/Boston Baroque Orchestral Suites on Telarc is really solid, and it fits on one disc (CD-80619). (Also SA-CD.)

For intellectually demanding (even by Bach's standards), Concerto Italiano's Keyboard Concertos and their fantastic version of The Art of the Fugue in the Opus 111 "Tete a Tete" 2CD is a great deal (OP 20011).

Don't know if you're also interested in vocal. You must have a Mass in B Minor? I really love the recent "one voice per part" version by Cantus Colln on Harmonia Mundi (901813.14). (Also SA-CD.)

There's so much... Check out his fugues. Many are absolutely amazing, and they revolutionized musical form.

Below is a listing of some very nice recordings by Rachel Podger. She plays a baroque violin and is on the channel classics label which are also well engineered recordings.

Another composer which you don't hear much about is Antonio Albinoni, I have his Adagios and they are beautiful.

Chuck

Rameau: Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts / Pinnock, et al

Format: CD SACD Hybrid (72338519002)

Release Date: Feb 11, 2003
Catalog #: CCSSA 19002
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 67 Mins

Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord / Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338514798)

Release Date: Jan 9, 2001
Catalog #: CCS 14798
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 2
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 139 Mins

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas Vol 2 / Rachel Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338514498)

Release Date: Nov 16, 1999
Catalog #: CCS 14498
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 66 Mins

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas Vol 1 / Rachel Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338512198)

Release Date: June 8, 1999
Catalog #: CCS 12198
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 76 Mins