CD Feature/ "Bach Classics"
TobiasYou can not please everybody. So Don Jackson hasn’t even tried. His collected recordings with the London Symphony Orchestra in 5.1. come as a hot package, combining progressive technology, good old favourites and a red warning sign attached: This may definitely not be your thing at all.
“Thaikovsky Classics” was vigorously debated among us editors and the other CDs of this series are of a similarly controversial nature. To understand what the fuss is all about, just listen to the first track of this album, an orchestral version of “Sheep may safely graze”. The mysticism, the placidly contemplative ambiance and even the parochial warmth has dissolved into a cosy slumber, leading the listener into limbo. Or take a peak at the strings in some of these pieces, which sometimes come across as superficial and strangely unreal. Experienced listeners, meanwhile, will bemoan yet another “Air”. On the other hand, I would like to strongly defend this sampler against heavy-handed criticism. First of all, lazyness may be a nuisance to some (to Bach especially), to others it’s a virtue – and you’ve got to hand it to Jackson, Bach has hardly ever sounded so relaxed. Add to that some powerful performances of semi-classics (the “Giant Fugue”!) and extracts of popular pieces (the Chorale from the “Easter Cantata”) and the result is a great disc that makes you both skip back to some individual tracks as well as want to play it in total.
It sure as something won’t please everybody. But it’s bound to thrill quite a lot of listeners. I’d like to attach another sticker to the cover: This may just be what you’ve been waiting for.
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