Monteilhet playing BWV 1010-1012 on theorbo

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Suites for Cello Solo BWV 1010-1012

Passcal Monteilhet (Theorbo)

Monteilhet playing BWV 1010-1012 on theorbo

1	Suites BWV 1010 á 1012
Suites for Cello Solo BWV 1010-1012
Pascal Monteheit (Theorbo)
Zig Zag Territoires		Sep 2001	CD / TT: 77:13

Bradley Lehman wrote (January 5, 2004):
This weekend I've been enjoying the new CD by Pascal Monteilhet (Zig Zag Territories #20901, just released, recorded Sept 2001). He plays the last three Bach cello suites, BWV 1010-1012, in his own transcription for theorbo.
http://www.zigzag-territoires.com/bach_th%8Eorbe.html

The obvious comparisons are with Nigel North's similar transcriptions for lute, and with all the Hopkinson Smith recordings of Bach (both original and transcribed). I wouldn't want to be without any of those. And there are various transcriptions by John Duarte and others, played on all manner of guitars; I've heard some of those but personally haven't liked them as well as North, Smith, and Monteilhet.

I think the booklet notes in this Monteilhet set go on far too long, apologetically trying to justify something that doesn't need to be justified beyond sounding good. Why make excuses for good musical decisions, this imaginative and vivid approach to the pieces? The proof is in the listening: the way a bowed texture can be translated to plucking.

And Monteilhet's playing is terrific, like that of his former teacher, Smith. He has plenty of patience, flexibility, serenity, and poise: the performance is gorgeous. And I especially like that lowest octave of notes that the theorbo can play but that the lute can't...it also goes lower than harpsichords do. Those low notes are thrilling here.

If I have any complaint here at all, it's that the performances are sometimes *so* laid-back (not slow, but so consistently relaxed in manner) that I feel they short-change the exciting side of things...but that's why we have cellos, and Pandolfo on viola da gamba, and Leonhardt on harpsichord, and various others playing these pieces on flute and recorder(!). There are so many ways these suites can sound wonderful, and every performance brings out something different.

Now, if only I could find the first three suites, 1007-1009! According to the booklet here, Monteilhet recorded those three on Virgin, released in 2000. But I don't recall ever seeing that anywhere, and haven't yet found a place to buy it in the U.S. Anyone know? Perhaps ZigZag will license and reissue that to make a complete set?

Feedback to the above Review

Riccardo Nughes wrote (January 5, 2004):
Bradley Lehman wrote: < Now, if only I could find the first three suites, 1007-1009! According to the booklet here, Monteilhet recorded those three on Virgin, released in 2000. But I don't recall ever seeing that anywhere, >
I have found it only at amazon.de: http://www.amazon.de/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00003ZA84/

Kirk McElhearn wrote (January 5, 2004):
Brad Lehman wrote: < If I have any complaint here at all, it's that the performances are sometimes *so* laid-back (not slow, but so consistently relaxed in manner) that I feel they short-change the exciting side of things... but that's why we have cellos, and Pandolfo on viola da gamba, and Leonhardt on harpsichord, and various others playing these pieces on flute and recorder(!). There are so many ways these suites can sound wonderful, and every performance brings out something different. >
I was actually disappointed by this recording - the first one is much better, much more energetic. As you say, this one is too laid back.

< Now, if only I could find the first three suites, 1007-1009! According to the booklet here, Monteilhet recorded those three on Virgin, released in 2000. But I don't recall ever seeing that anywhere, and haven't yet found a place to buy it in the U.S. Anyone know? Perhaps ZigZag will license and reissue that to make a complete set? >
Dunno... It's oop here as well...

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Last update: ýApril 10, 2004 ý10:08:34