October 27, 2015

Audiophilia: Bach Cello Suites Review

“The new PENTATONE recording (this company is knocking it out of the park, audiophile-wise) is beautifully natural. Just the right amount of resonance to enhance the cello tone and not to drown it.”

We received a great review about our latest Bach Cello Suites according to Anna Magdalena performed by the incredible Cellist Matt Haimovitz as part of our Oxingale series on Audiophilia! Read more of this heart-warming review.

This is Israeli cellist Matt Haimovitz’ second go around the Bach Cello Suites. I have not heard the first, but this second recording fifteen years later does great service to the magnificent suites.

The new PentaTone recording (this company is knocking it out of the park, audiophile-wise) is beautifully natural. Just the right amount of resonance to enhance the cello tone and not to drown it. Haimovitz is playing the suites on a baroque cello and the sixth suite on the five-string piccolo cello. The baroque cello is quite similar to the modern cello but it has a shorter neck and fingerboard, and usually no end pin. I imagine playing the cello without an end pin very fatiguing. The informed practice was taken from the version that was published by Bach’s second wife, Anna Magdalena.

Anthony Kershaw