h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hi,

It's a worthy idea to introduce as many people as you can to this wonderful music....but I really don't think it's a good idea to suggest those new to these pieces should start with the Casals recordings. Unless people are used to 'historical' recordings, they can, and generally do, find the sound extremely difficult to live with. Period instruments can also be a problem for some, although the cello usually sounds OK. The pitch of the recording can be lower too, eg the Wispelwey set is recorded at A=415 Hz. (These comments are based on my experience of selling classical recordings for many years.)

Also, the list you give of other cellists is way too short, or too long. Why mention this average few, and leave out so many others? I don't mean they're not decent enough recordings, but it looks as though you mean it as an extensive listing. (Of those you mention, I have CDs of both Tortelier sets, the Fournier the Wispelwey, and the Casals.)

Other recordings:

Anner Bylsma: two excellent complete recordings on period instruments.
Robert Cohen: on Collins Classics, so probably out of circulation.
Maurice Gendron: another highly regarded 60s set.
Ralph Kirschbaum: more recent, and with the best set of notes I've ever seen for these pieces.
Yo-Yo Ma: two sets, the more recent linked to a set of films 'interpreting' each suite.
Mstislav Rostropovich: good recorded sound, and seems to one of those sets that regularly get heavily discounted, it would make a safe suggestion as an introductory recording.
Janos Starker: three sets (at least), with the Philips/Mercury early 60s set certainly my favorite of his, and possibly my fave of all.
Japp Ter Linden: excellent period instrument set.
Paul Tortelier: you didn't say that there are two sets, and which one you refer to.
Yuli Turovsky: not exactly my cup of tea, but some people like it, apparently.
Pieter Wispelwey (editors please note spelling, NOT 'Wipslewey' as in article): you don't mention that this is recorded on period instruments (baroque cello 1-5, cello piccolo for number 6).

Other recordings I have heard include:
Gaspar Cassado (lovely 50s set), Lluis Claret, Rocco Filippini, Sergei Istomin (period instrument), Antonio Janigro (another vintage set, maybe the slowest ever recorded), André Navarre, Vito Paternoster (he has also recorded cello transcriptions of the solo violin works, which I haven't heard), Errki Rautio, Morten Zeuthen (his set includes a transcription of the partita BWV 1013).

Now, please don't include the above, it's way too much, and it's batted off, rather than well considered. I meant it for your information, not publication.

I think you should state, however, that there are a large number of recordings, and point out that historic ones can be an acquired taste (and is one that many listeners NEVER acquire). I think you should also discuss period instrument recordings: for some they are awful, for others they are truth and beauty. At the very least, mention the Rostropovich set. It might not be top of my (or your) list, but it does get recommended and it is very easy to find, at least in the UK.

If you'd like me to suggest a para or two on recordings, let me know.

If you think the above is over the top, don't get me started on
'he has used these structures to express deep and profound emotion'.
Not for this baby.

Best Wishes,

B

See,

I said it was batted off: André Navarre should read André Navarra.

Plus, I didn't mean it to be an exhaustive listing: there are of course several other sets I haven't heard at all, including at least two I'd like to: one on Viola da Gamba (I want CDs of that set, as I do of any VdG recording) and from the US played on a double bass. I'm not sure if it's played in the tessitura of a cello (Dragonetti style) or its natural one.

Enough already,

B

Hi,

In case you wanted to take me up on the offer, or get me going on the emotional content of music, especially the Bach suites, I must apologise: I've decided that 'h2g2' is worthless, and I won't be logging in again.

Bye.