Casals' Bach: Marston vs. Winner
rkhalona
transfers of Casals' Bach Cello Suites by Seth Winner (on Pearl
GEMS 0045) and Ward Marston (Naxos 8.110915-16), both on two slim
2-CD sets.
To begin with, the contents of both sets is almost identical. In
addition to the six cello suites, each set includes
- Adagio in A minor from Toccata, Adagio and Fugue in C major,
BWV 564 (arr. Siloti)
- Gavottes I and II from English Suite No. 6, BWV 811, arr. by
Pollain
- Komm, Suesser Tod, BWV 478, arr. by Siloti
- Andante from Sonata No. 2 for solo violin, arr. by Siloti
- Air from Suite No. 3 in D, BWV 1068, arr. by Siloti/Casals
The Pearl set also includes
- Largo from Concerto for Organ No. 5 in D minor (after Vivaldi,
Op. 3, No. 11) BWV 596, arr. by Stutschewski.
The Pearl set provides extensive notes on the history of these
recordings and on Casals' personality in the form of a
reminiscence by Teri Noel Towe (12 pages in all). By comparison,
the notes provided by Tully Potter with the Naxos set are more
spartan, so I give Pearl a slight edge in content and a wider
edge in the accompanying notes.
As for the sound, I can't help feeling how fortunate we music
lovers are to be served so ably by these two magicians of sound
restoration. The bottom line for me is that the Pearl set
includes a little more surface noise, but this pays off in a
slightly fuller cello tone and a more immediate impact. Nowhere
was this more evident than in the beginning of the first cello
suite where the Naxos sounds a little cleaner, but with just a
little edge left out from the cello's tone. This is not to say
that the Marston transfers are overfiltered, as there is plenty
of body to them. On some pieces however (e.g., the lovely Air on
the G string), the transfers sound so close that it would be
difficult to tell them apart and they would make for interesting
blind testing (which I did not do). It is on pieces like this
that a decision may be very difficult.
In summary, I would say that a cost-conscious listener would be
better served by the Naxos issue since it costs about half as
much as the Pearl. If money is no object, the Pearl set will
provide you with an additional 3-1/2 minutes of lovely music,
more extensive and interesting notes (including a first-hand
account by Denise Restout of the famous exchange between Casals
and Landowska about playing Bach) and, on some pieces (and for
these ears), a slightly fuller sound palette.
Ramon Khalona
Carlsbad, California
-----------------------------------------------------------
Got questions? Get answers over the phone at Keen.com.
Up to 100 minutes free!
http://www.keen.com
JRsnfld
--Jeff
Tom Lay
>
> Thanks for the review--time to upgrade the old Casals discs.
>
> --Jeff
My thanks as well. Does anyone know when the Naxos will be available in
the US?
Thanks,
Tom Lay
Richard Chon
laws.
I think EMI retains the rights to those recordings in the States.
I tried to find the Naxos at Tower Berkeley today -- but no luck.
Richard Chon
On Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:24:08 -0500, Tom Lay
<tlay....@sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
>JRsnfld wrote:
>>
>> Thanks for the review--time to upgrade the old Casals discs.
>>
>> --Jeff
>
Russell W. Miller
news:3999c162...@news.easynews.com...
> Probably never -- except as an import -- due to American copyright
> laws.
>
> I think EMI retains the rights to those recordings in the States.
Then how does it happen that the Pearl issue is available in the US?
> I tried to find the Naxos at Tower Berkeley today -- but no luck.
US issues of the Naxos historicals have been running a month or two behind
Europe. Patience.
Russell
> On Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:24:08 -0500, Tom Lay
> <tlay....@sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
>
> >JRsnfld wrote:
> >>
> >> Thanks for the review--time to upgrade the old Casals discs.
> >>
> >> --Jeff
> >
Richard Chon
Klaus Heymann informs me that the Casals will be released stateside
in October by the latest.
R. Chon
On Tue, 15 Aug 2000 21:07:13 -0400, "Russell W. Miller"
<r...@classical78.com> wrote:
>Richard Chon <rc...@pacbell.net> wrote in message
>news:3999c162...@news.easynews.com...
>> Probably never -- except as an import -- due to American copyright
>> laws.
>>
>> I think EMI retains the rights to those recordings in the States.
>
>Then how does it happen that the Pearl issue is available in the US?
>
>> I tried to find the Naxos at Tower Berkeley today -- but no luck.
>
>US issues of the Naxos historicals have been running a month or two behind
>Europe. Patience.
>
>Russell
>
>> On Tue, 15 Aug 2000 11:24:08 -0500, Tom Lay
>> <tlay....@sas.upenn.edu> wrote:
>>
>> >JRsnfld wrote:
>> >>
>> >> Thanks for the review--time to upgrade the old Casals discs.
>> >>
>> >> --Jeff
>> >
HenryFogel
>In summary, I would say that a cost-conscious listener would be
>better served by the Naxos issue since it costs about half as
>much as the Pearl. If money is no object, the Pearl set will
>provide you with an additional 3-1/2 minutes of lovely music,
>more extensive and interesting notes (including a first-hand
>account by Denise Restout of the famous exchange between Casals
>and Landowska about playing Bach) and, on some pieces (and for
>these ears), a slightly fuller sound palette.
>
>Ramon Khalona
>Carlsbad, California
>
Thanks for the extensive and insightful review. Sigh -- another purchase that
needs to be made.
Henry Fogel