Need some help with Brandenburgs


Not so long ago, we got a new amp and I suddenly realized how bad my Brandenburg concertos sounded, so they are gone. I do have them on CDs, but it's not the same - I need records.

So I need help, the number of recordings of the Brandenburgs is overwhelming. I saw a recommendation for Trevor Pinnock with the European Brandenburg Ensemble, can anyone second this? Or give other recommendations? Benjamin Britten? It looks as if Yehudi Menuhin spent a large part of his career recording them, which seems obsessive.

Any help will be appreciated!

notify

Pinnock, Akademie für Alte Musik Berlin, and Savall all worth exploring.  Among the older recordings, Richter is highly regarded.

There are dozens of good recordings out thee.  I second the Savall recommendation, Pinnock, Reinharde Gobble, Marriner, Gustav Leonhardt et al on Sony...

I don’t think Jordi Savall’s recording is on LP, but just CD/SACD.  I don’t really like Richter’s interpretations, or rather the recordings of his performances, probably due to the poor recording capability when he was recording.  I think Pinnock may be my favorite, although the one by Swartz is good also, but not quite the same quality of interpretation as Pinnock.

The Decca London recordings FFrr (Full Frequency range recordings) should not break the bank and sound very good indeed. CSA.2225 "BRITTEN CONDUCTS BACH'S BRANDENBURG CONCERTOS ENGLISH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA"

 

 

Matt M

Oh, I just realized the OP wanted vinyl.  The Leonhardt set and Karl Ristenpart on Nonesuch were my recordings until I didn’t have to extract music from slabs of fossil fuel.  The Ristenpart was sadly never (?) digitalized, but the Leonhardt was resides on my phone

Ok, great, I was thinking I should go with Pinnock, so you (mostly) have confirmed that for me.

Thank you

@notify: If you like Pinnock’s Brandenburgs, look for his recordings of Handel, Rameau, and Scarlatti on the UK label CRD. Great performances, excellent recorded sound quality (the harpsichord is in your room!) and LP pressings.

You may want to decide first whether you want a recording featuring modern or original instruments. Since you mention Pinnock perhaps the latter is preferred. In that case I’d recommend the Smithsonian Institution’s box set featuring Albert Fuller leading Aston Magna. Beautiful analogue recording and widely available at your local used record shop for $5-6. 

@dodgealum: Yes! I too have the Fuller boxset, and share your opinion. I like the composition enough to have multiple recordings of it, others (in addition to the Pinnock) being Nikolaus Harnoncourt on Telefunken, Gustav Leonhardt on Phillips, and Karl Richter on Archiv. Fortunately, all feature excellent recorded sound quality.