These recordings were made for the Columbia label at Abbey Road Studios in 1935 (Brandenburg Concertos) and 1936 (Suites).
In his characteristically authoritative and informative essay, Tully Potter relates that in concerts in 1935 in Basle and at Queen’s Hall, London, the Busch Chamber Players (directed from the violin rather than conducted by Adolf Busch) caused a sensation and drew critical acclaim with the vitality and brilliance of their Bach playing.
He goes on to observe: ‘Even today, when the battle for “small-scale” Bach has long since been won, the playing on these 1935–36 recordings has the power to astonish with its vigour, rhythmic vivacity and spontaneity. The soloists – Busch himself, Moyse père et fils, Eskdale, Brain, Rothwell, Serkin – have not been surpassed in all the myriad later recordings... These interpretations sound amazingly “modern” for all their occasional old-fashioned aspects.’
Toscanini liked to attend Busch Chamber Players rehearsals and concerts, and gave the recordings the highest praise; while in 1938 Weingartner struck a Brandenburg off one of his London programmes after hearing Busch’s concerts.
This new state-of-the-art remastering by Abbey Road 78 expert Andrew Walter improves greatly on the recordings’ previous appearance on Références.
Awards: 10 de Répertoire, Penguin Guide
