Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Prelude
2. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Allemande
3. Suite No.1 In G Major, BWV 1007: Courante
4. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Sarabande
5. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Menuet I / Menuet II
6. Suite for solo cello No. 1 in G major, BWV 1007: Gigue
7. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Prelude
8. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Allemande
9. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Courante
10. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Sarabande
11. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Menuet I / Menuet II
12. Suite for solo cello No. 2 in D minor, BWV 1008: Gigue
13. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Prelude
14. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Allemande
15. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Courante
16. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Sarabande
17. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Bourree I / Bourree II
18. Suite for solo cello No. 3 in C major, BWV 1009: Gigue

Disc 2:

1. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Prelude
2. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Allemande
3. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Courante
4. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Sarabande
5. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gavotte I / Gavotte II
6. Suite for solo cello No. 5 in C minor, BWV 1011: Gigue
7. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Prelude
8. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Allemande
9. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Courante
10. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Sarabande
11. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Gavotte I / Gavotte II
12. Suite for solo cello No. 6 in D major, BWV 1012: Gigue
13. Toccata, Adagio and Fugue, for organ in C major, BWV 564 (BC J36): Adagio in A minor
14. English Suite, for keyboard No. 6 in D minor, BWV 811 (BC L18): Musette
15. Komm, süsser Tod, for voice & continuo (Schemelli Gesangbuch No. 868), BWV 478 (BC F227)
16. Sonata for solo violin No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003: Andante
17. Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D major, BWV 1068: Air

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #61895 in Music
• Released on: 2000-09-26
• Number of discs: 2

Amazon.com essential recording
For many of us, Pablo Casals's legendary interpretation of Bach's six cello suites--the 1930s recordings that showcased these works as far more than mere finger exercises for cellists--are still definitive. Casals rediscovered these previously appreciated compositions and did his damnedest to illustrate their importance. Hence, his bold, romantic interpretations, which may lack subtlety but certainly not substance or grace. With Naxos's new remastering from audio producer Ward Marston, this bargain-priced recording makes a vast improvement on EMI's more expensive version of these exact same recordings (and a subtle improvement over Pearl's even pricier remastering). Here, you can finally turn up the stereo and get the full sonic depth of these recordings without fatiguing your ears from a ton of surface noise. Instead, you simply get lost in Casals's flowing, passionate playing and impeccable tone. This has always been a landmark recording and it's never sounded better than this. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews

Wonderful, but watch out for a mastering error
These are of course the classic 1936-39 recordings, essential. Here in Ward Marston's new transfers they sound better than ever, and Naxos' price is lower than anybody else's (not counting the pirates). And it's terrific to see all the recording dates and master numbers listed in the credits. So, five stars on all that.

But watch out for a CD mastering error, at least if you're getting an early copy. Specifically, listen to track 6 of disc 1. It is of course supposed to be movement 6 (gigue) of suite 1, but instead it is the first half (first 78 rpm side) of movement 1 from suite 6! Therefore this gigue is omitted from the set.

My copy is marked "MADE IN CANADA" and here are all the stamper numbers from disc 1: DIDX-075407 5 IFPI L324. And then closer to the hole there is 6706. I am writing to Naxos' contact address (in the USA) to ask if a corrected replacement is available from a different pressing run.

Also there's a typo in the credits: in the Air from the orchestral suite #3, the pianist "Otto Schulf" should be "Otto Schulhof."

p.s. Naxos cheerfully replaced the defective disc soon after I wrote to them with the complaint. The good new copy of that first disc is stamped 811AF000915 and 23B61.

Which remastering...which remastering...?
I'm not even going to discuss the performances because I couldn't add anything that hasn't already been said, and I have a feeling by the time you read this you've already made up your mind about Casals and Bach anyway. The issue is with this new mastering: is it "better" and how much? The Amazon review says it is significantly better than the EMI. After listening twice with audiophile-grade headphones to both sets, I've concluded...it's probably a coin toss. All depends what you like. This new one is a bit quieter and more "recessed," but to my ears the EMI sounds a bit more vivid and has more presence. At times the EMI sound gets a bit "tubby" and "smeary," especially in the fast scalar passages. At the same time, the EMI better captures the burnished tone of Casal's cello. Pedal notes, not surprisingly, are also more dramatic on the EMI. The best analogy I can give is the Naxos makes me feel like I'm at a recital sitting in the twelfth row, whereas the EMI makes me feel like I'm next to Casals. It all depends on where you want to be. Honestly, since I can't decide, I'd recommend you get both masterings of these seminal works. Both sets are fairly inexpensive and the Naxos gives you some bonus music not found on the EMI. The liner notes on the Naxos are also better. So my recommendation is for both.

Fantastic!
There is no doubt that this iteration of the Bach Cello suites is one of the finest on record. There really should be no fear of an "old" sound coming from your system when playing these; Ward Marston has done a superb job, as usual, in cleaning these up. Unless you are super sensitive to any sound other than the music coming through your speakers, you will thouroughly enjoy the sheer tonal quality produced by these wonderful HMV masters

As for the mastering error outlined below by another reviewer, I had no such problem. The number on my discs are: Disc 1 811AF000915 6709 and Disc 2 DIDX-072408 2 6711. I assume that they caught the error and it is now being released with the correct tracks.

Casals provides us with a very solid performance with plenty of personal energy and conviction. Some may prefer a more cerebral and flowing approach, but for pure passion, energy and rhythmic genius, this is the set you want. I am wholly pleased with this and I laud Naxos for making this one of the best purchases of the year for me. As the reviewer below states, these performances have never sounded better.