J.S. Bach: Lute Music

by

Johann Sebastian Bach and Jakob Lindberg

Edit

I've been sorely plagued by the fact that I've never had what I would consider a true appreciation of Bach's solo lute works. When younger, I traversed the recordings of Bream, Williams, some Segovia, but nothing hit home. It all sounded pendantic and boring to me. Nothing hit the heart. My discovery of Lindberg's two-CD BIS set has been a source of constant joy and pleasure for weeks. I've been astonished by what I've heard. Lindberg captures every mood, every nuance Bach has to offer. There is absolutely nothing perfunctory here. A listen to the Sarabandes from the Suite in E Minor (BWV 996) or C Minor (BWV 997) will quickly and permanently silence criticism. I have nothing but the deepest respect for an artist, like Lindberg, who can peel back the layers of music that may be, under less sensitive fingers, simply dull and academic. Lindberg's Bach is sweet revelation. These discs are a wondrous calmative. Lindberg proves the perfect advocate, and the sound provided him by BIS, as well, is exemplary.

[Running time--- CD 1: 66:19 CD 2: 43:42]

In this double CD Jacob Lindberg gives us his opinion on Bach's famous lute works.This opinon is to be found according to my opinion poor.Jacob Lindberg fails to give the necessary freedom to the works and therefore he is trapped in a stereotype interpretation not much different from any other.I personally adored Jacob Lindberg in the "Virtuoso Lute Music from Italy and England" (BIS-CD-211) where he had a quite strong and personal opinion on the works which actually gave the feeling of being in another century.But in this recording I was quite disappointed.The conclusion is that Jacob Lindberg doesn't yet control the works,on the other hand the works control his playing stripping it from any personal taste.