Menuhin/Bath FO: Bach Suites Nos. 1 & 4 - Electrola SME 91250 (w/g), lovely copy

Jacket NM / LP NM

This beautiful LP – a superb collector’s copy – from Electrola (SME 91250, German pressing, white/gold label – ED1, stereo) features Yehudi Menuhin conducting the Bath Festival Orchestra in truly inspired accounts of Bach’s Orchestral Suites No. 1 in C Major BWV 1066 and No. 4 in D Major BWV 1069, both warmly recorded at EMI Studio No. 1, Abbey Road, London, in 1960.

In reviewing EMI’s CD re-issue of these performances, the critics of The Gramophone wrote:

“The warmly resilient playing of Menuhin's Bath players capture the spirit of the music admirably. When finally withdrawn from HMV's fullprice label this had dominated the catalogue, until Marriner's ASMF/Argo recording appeared, and even then could hold its own, for Menuhin's freshness and warmth conveyed the music's breadth without inflation. Those who rejoice in the 'preauthentic' way of performing Bach will find that Menuhin's readings and the warmly resilient playing of his Bath players capture the spirit of the music admirably.”

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And of a later re-issue, The Gramophone also commented in its June 2010 issue:

“...while running counter to the customised cool of period performance, [Menuhin's Bach] continues to delight with its full-bodied tone, musical phrasing and well-chosen tempi. In a word, they sound beautiful...The recording quality combines clarity with impressive warmth of texture and the transfers are excellent.”

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There are fine liner notes (uncredited) on the reverse side of the jacket, printed in German only. The striking cover photo is similarly uncredited.