Stars: Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra

Director: Reinier Hilhorst

Summary: Recorded in the Palace Het Loo where each performance was filmed in a different part of the building and features Bach's Orchestral Suites BWV 1066-9. Tom Koopman conducts the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra.

One of the most famous musicians of all time, Johann Sebastian Bach left behind an incredible oeuvre of Baroque compositions. Gorgeous in all their symmetry and nuances, these works have withstood the test of time, and continued to be performed all over the world. This video features a historically accurate performance of Bach's Orchestral Suites. Played by the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra on reproduced period instruments, these four suites -- No. 1 in C, No. 2 in B Minor, and No. 3 and 4 in D Major -- sound just as delightful as they did when they were first performed.

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Ton Koopman has long been master of Bach's Orchestral Suites, as these 1989 recordings attest. He has a wonderful affinity for the composer's orchestral colours, for speeds that are apt but never exaggerated and for working with players who are at the very top of their profession and yet who are never simply interested in surface gloss. It's not surprising that his Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra is one of the pre-eminent bands in the period-instrument world. Visual interest is added here by the setting--the exuberantly Baroque Het Loo Palace, built for William of Orange--and having the band move from room to room, depending on the size of orchestra demanded by Bach. Unfortunately, the acoustic of that used in Suites Nos. 3 and 4 rather dwarfs the orchestra, and the string section in particular sounds unfairly scrawny. Otherwise, visual elements are deftly managed, avoiding too many unflattering close-ups of oboists in action, though perhaps we see more of Koopman's pate than is strictly desirable. Altogether, though, these are classy and thoroughly recommendable performances of these great works.

On the DVD:Bach's Orchestral Suiteson DVD falls down on extras, offering only the option of subtitles in English, German, French or Spanish. The booklet accompanying the DVD includes brief notes on the music but the English version is carelessly typeset, and this extends to the subtitles on the DVD itself (the Second Suite is listed as being in "B flat minor" rather than B minor). The 4:3 picture format does justice to the opulent surroundings but the acoustic is unflattering for the last two Suites, despite the otherwise acceptable 1989 stereo recording. --Harriet Smith

Aspect Ratio:	4:3
Main Language:	English
Region:	Region 2
Subtitles:	English
Year:	1989
Release Date:	July 29, 2002
Runtime:	87 minutes
Certification:	Exempt.
Catalogue Number:	100 266
Keywords:	Music, Amsterdam, Orchestra, Four, Performance, Orchestral, Plays, Bach, Classical, Johann, Performing, Sebastian, Baroque, Arts, Suites
Genre:	Music/Performing Arts