
Although Bach wrote the four suites in the French-influenced Baroque style much favored in his day, he also included extensive parts for solo instruments with ensemble backup. Bach didn't even want to call them "suites," although they are sets of five to seven movements each; he called them "overtures," a custom of the day in referring to a complete set by just its first movement. Anyway, why he wrote them and what he called them are beside the point; the main thing is that they continue to entertain us with their wit and charm.
There are any number of fine recordings of Bach's four orchestral suites, and this one reissued by Brilliant Classics is a safe rendering of the music. The virtuoso trumpeter and conductor Ludwig Guttler formed the chamber orchestra Virtuosi Saxoniae in 1978, drawing members from the Dresden Staatskapelle. They are very good, and under Guttler's careful and somewhat conservative guidance, they sound remarkably fluent and articulate.
Guttler adopts generally moderate tempos throughout the four suites, so you'll find no surprises here. Played on modern instruments, it isn't the hell-bent-for-leather approach taken by some bands, especially those striving for an authentic, period interpretation; nor is it a slow, leaden rendition. In fact, Guttler and his musicians play it pretty middle-of-the-road. While I wouldn't call these readings old-fashioned, they are not exactly innovative or daring, either.
In fact, Guttler takes everything at such a steady pace, it seems as though his main intent is not to offend anybody. He won't; but he may win over a few listeners who find most other performances of Bach a little too shrill or "tinkly-tinkly" for them, as an old friend used to characterize Baroque music. The Virtuosi Saxoniae are a smooth, elegant group of players who produce a smooth and elegant set of suites. They may miss out on some of the outright fun of this music, but they make up for it the sophistication of their playing.
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Ludwig Guttler |
The problem may be that there are so many fine recordings of this music available, listeners may find Guttler's disc noncompetitive. After all, we already have excellent renditions on period and modern instruments from Marriner, Savall, Pinnock, Hogwood, Linde, Gardiner, Koopman, Pearlman, Kuijken, Leppard, Clark, Suzuki, Goodman, Egarr, and others I've no doubt forgotten just now. Guttler's more sedate readings may not stand close comparison.
So, what are the advantages of Guttler's disc? For one, it is just a single disc. Many competing versions take two discs to accommodate the four suites. For another, Guttler's disc is relatively inexpensive. Then there are the polished, ultrasmooth performances and equally smooth sound. These may count for something. Finally, there is plain old curiosity; for the Bach lover who wants to hear or own everything Bach, the price point makes an easy purchase.
Producer Bernd Runge, balance engineer Eberhard Richter, and recording engineer Horst-Dieter Kappler made the album at Lukaskirche, Dresden, Germany in 1991-92. Like the performances, the sound is quite smooth and refined, and since the Virtuosi Saxoniae are a fairly small group, the sound is also reasonably clear, if a tad soft. A mild room resonance provides a warm, golden glow to the proceedings. Although there isn't a lot of sparkle or dynamic punch to the sound, the whole thing is attractive in its own unassuming way.
JJP
To listen to a brief excerpt from this album, click here:
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