Pieter Wispelwey 392: 50th Anniversary Recording: 2+1CD+DVD

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Of my three dozen discs, and innumnerable performance I've heard live of Bach's Cello Suites, none is as challenging as this...[Wispelwey] adopts the pitch used at Cothen where Bach wrote the... — BBC Music Magazine, Christmas 2012, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 15th Oct 2012
Catalogue No: EPRC012
Label: Evil Penguin
Length: 2 hours 13 minutes

Presto Recording of the Week

17th December 2012

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 1 in G major, BWV1007

Work length17:00

$6.00

$8.40

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length2:06

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length4:45

$1.00

$1.40

Courante

Track length2:43

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length2:48

$1.00

$1.40

Menuet I and II

Track length3:05

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length1:33

$1.00

$1.40

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 2 in D minor, BWV1008

Work length19:33

$6.00

$8.40

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length3:21

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length4:15

$1.00

$1.40

Courante

Track length1:59

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length4:34

$1.00

$1.40

Menuet I and II

Track length2:48

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length2:36

$1.00

$1.40

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 3 in C major, BWV1009

Work length20:38

$6.00

$8.40

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length2:45

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length4:17

$1.00

$1.40

Courante

Track length2:59

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length4:10

$1.00

$1.40

Bourrée I and II

Track length3:17

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length3:10

$1.00

$1.40

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV1010

Work length23:20

$6.00

$8.40

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length4:10

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length4:09

$1.00

$1.40

Courante

Track length3:06

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length4:33

$1.00

$1.40

Bourrée I and II

Track length4:24

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length2:58

$1.00

$1.40

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 5 in C minor, BWV1011

Work length22:28

$6.00

$8.40

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length5:19

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length4:45

$1.00

$1.40

Courante

Track length2:03

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length3:41

$1.00

$1.40

Gavotte I and II

Track length4:27

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length2:13

$1.00

$1.40

Bach, J S: Cello Suite No. 6 in D major, BWV1012

Work length30:24

$6.50

$9.10

Pieter Wispelwey

Prelude

Track length4:48

$1.00

$1.40

Allemande

Track length7:58

$1.50

$2.10

Courante

Track length3:32

$1.00

$1.40

Sarabande

Track length5:50

$1.00

$1.40

Gavotte I and II

Track length4:09

$1.00

$1.40

Gigue

Track length4:07

$1.00

$1.40

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Recording of the Week, Wispelwey and Schiff re-visit Bach

17th December 2012

For his third recording of the Suites, the Dutch cellist tunes his instrument down by a whole tone to the pitch which was commonly used in Cöthen where Bach composed the works, whilst Schiff’s second take on The Well-Tempered Clavier is more direct and less sentimental than its predecessor.

Celebrating his 50th birthday, this recording of Bach’s Complete Cello Suites is Pieter Wispelwey’s third recording of the repertoire, but probably his most controversial!

Based on extensive research by Laurence Dreyfus and John Butt (from the Dunedin Consort), Pieter tuned his strings down to a pitch of 392 for this recording, and the resulting sound is a very rich, sonorous experience. His cello also has gut strings for this recording and is played with a short bow.

The suites are set out on disc in a chronological order, so you can listen for yourself to see if you can hear the difference in pitch and whether you prefer this recording over his others!

Beautifully packaged in a slim box set, the recording contains a double disc of the Bach Suites and also a bonus DVD where Pieter talks about the recording. Priced as a mid price double, this recording will be a must have for all fans of Bach.

Reviews

Christmas 2012

Of my three dozen discs, and innumnerable performance I've heard live of Bach's Cello Suites, none is as challenging as this...[Wispelwey] adopts the pitch used at Cothen where Bach wrote the Suites...The effect, beautifully recorded here, is very striking; Wispelwey describes it as 'relaxed', 'rustic' and 'raw'...Love it or hate it, this is a ground-breaking 'must-buy' for every cellist and Bach-lover.

Early Music Review

this is a must-have set. And for so many reasons!

December 2012

[the DVD is] an insightful bonus. The Dutch cellist is charming and articulate, and his views on the works are well supported...[the tuning] facilitates many stylistic aspects of his performance but inevitably results in a softer-edged, mellow tone - more viol-like - than normally associated with recordings of these works. He plays with deep affection and understanding. He experiments with Bach's musical rhetoric: some will find it over-phrased.

17th December 2012

Wispelwey tunes his cello down a whole tone from what is common today and the result is much more grainy, rustic sound, which at times resembles more a viol or even a double bass than a cello. But combined with Wispelwey’s dancing, light articulation it produces a thoroughly persuasive account...a fascinating set and essential listening for all lovers of the cello and Bach in general.

7th October 2012

These are by far the gruffest accounts of Bach’s iconic works for solo cello on disc...The sound is disconcerting — at times in the slow sarabandes, Wispelwey might be playing a transcription for double bass ... A must-hear for ultra-authentic Bachians

12th October 2012

these are really extraordinary [performances]. Wispelwey uses a Baroque cello with the strings tuned down a whole tone. It gives a deep grainy sound, but counteracting that is the fabulous springy liveliness of the playing...Like a master rhetorician, he fills Bach’s even procession of notes with meaningful pauses, emphatic emphases, pleading diminuendos, changes of tone.

19th January 2013

The playing is exquisite, and the combination of a warm, close-up recording and Wispelwey’s’s decision to tune his baroque cello to a lower pitch (A=392) gives the suites an appealing, earthy gruffness...This is the best "making-of" DVD I’ve seen – scholarly, entertaining and visually appealing.

Videos

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Pieter Wispelwey 392: 50th Anniversary Recording

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Recording of the Week, Wispelwey and Schiff re-visit Bach

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