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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Unsurpassed Jan 23, 2008
As a cellist (at least during childhood) and son of a cellist, I heard a lot of wonderful music from the masters in my home, including early Janos Starker. But these renditions of Bach's profound compositions for solo cello are unsurpassed, not only for their virtuosity (and after all, Casals, Ma, etc., are wonderful artists) but for their emotional subtlety and depth. I play these CDs almost weekly and never tire of this music.
Exquisite! Dec 28, 2007
It's a curious thing; keyboard players seem to suffer no impairment of technique as they approach old age but, generally, string players fare less well. Starker was 70 when he made these recordings and conscious that they might have to be his final recorded statement on the Bach Suites.
I think his timing was perfect. He has magically caught that elusive point of intersection between the ever-rising curve of experience and the perhaps-about-to-descend line of technical accomplishment. To my mind, Starker's offering is a perfect complement to Milstein's performance of the violin Sonatas and Partitas.
This recording is first class and captures all the detail of the artist's remarkable technique; he draws a surprising dynamic range from an unusually full-bodied instrument. Janos Starker demonstrates a profound understanding of Bach's compositional architecture and contemporary conventions of performance. There is something new to experience and marvel at each time these discs are played and I know of no others (including Tortelier) of whom I have been able to say that.
Every moment is a true delight.
3 of 4 found the following review helpful:
 "big" Bach Nov 02, 2006
Listening to these readings of the Bach solo Cello suites, I was reminded of Herbert von Karajan's 1960's recordings of the Beethoven symphonies with the Berlin Philharmonic. That was "big" Beethoven, just as Starker's performances here are "big" Bach: tempos are taken rather slow (except in the especially lively, dance-like movements, which are played at a good clip) and long, arching, legato lines are drawn out of the scores. Everything is lush and broad and expansive; rich, resonant, and very modern instrumental sonorities are perhaps the centerpiece of this opulent, mid-century style of playing. (This album was in fact recorded in '92, late in the century, but it was Starker's fifth and last recording of these works, made in his old age. His aesthetic ethos is unmistakably that of the middle 20th century, the formative time of his youth.)
The wonderful thing about listening to different interpretations of these works is, they are just that: very different interpretations. Each great player to approach them brings such a different style and expression out of them than the next does. If I had to choose, I suppose I would take Pierre Fournier's readings as my first choice; but I am quite fond of almost all of the different interpretations of these works that I know, and so I heartily recommend this disc if you are considering it.
4 of 7 found the following review helpful:
Great! Oct 13, 2006
Pablo is definitely the Babe Ruth/Moses of these pieces.
However, tempo, cadence, clarity, consistency and emotional projection are much better here.
Starker is at least the Michael Jordan of the Bach Suites. -And compared to Pablo (I heard the Naxos one) the sound quality on this disc is The Right Hand Of God.
Starker is the dog's balls; big ones, like a Great Dane.
8 of 10 found the following review helpful:
Full of Life Jul 08, 2006
I don't know much about who's who in music. Actually, I don't know much about music. So when I decided I wanted some cello, I naturally listened to samplings by Yoyoma. Coming across my cheap computer speakers, the music was naturally flat. Then I read a review saying how Janos Starker's cd was much better. When I listened to this cd over my cheap speakers, I was amazed at the vibrance. I bought this cd and have been pleased at how much emotion comes through. It is exactly the music I had wanted when I decided I wanted cello music.
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