The Bach - 100 Supreme Classical Masterpieces: Rise of the Masters collection is a great way to add Bach's works to your classical music collection. Though I have owned this set for a while, and have been enjoying it tremendously, I decided to post this note after purchasing and listening to The 99 Most Essential Bach Masterpieces (Full Works Edition). It's a great set for those who want to listen to the complete works as the composer intended. This set includes some of the same works, including complete works, and is a better value. It has about 1 hour less of music but is about half as much.
This collection features many performances by the Bach Collegium Japan and Masaaki Suzuki, while in the full works collection they are only represented in the Cantata (BWV 147) and the Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major (BWV 1068). Also duplicated are the 5 tracks that make up the performance by Conrad von der Goltz of Partita Number 2, while the other set does not include the 6 tracks devoted to Nobuko Imai's rendition of Partita Number 3.
This set also contains a number of works present in the other set but by different performers. Orchestral Suite Number 2 in B Minor (BWV 1067) is performed here by the Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble and Penelope Evison, while the Masters set includes a performance by Camerata Rhenania and Eugen Duvier. Similarly the Sonata in E-Flat Major for Flute and Harpsichord (BWV 1031) is performed here by Sharon Bezaly and Terence Charlston, while in the other set it is performed by The Moravian Trio. About a quarter of the same works are similarly presented on the other set by different performers.
CONCLUSION
This set includes a nice variety of high quality performances at a great value. There is definitely tremendous value to those who want to listen to these works sequentially with all the movements. While both sets provide some complete works, and the other set still has sufficient variety, the Rise of the Masters collection is a better value at this time. I hope you get to purchase and enjoy one or both of these collections.
We're seeing more of these classical music collections on Amazon, and this one is superb. Nearly half of the tracks are from the outstanding Bach Collegium Japan (BCJ), or its conductor, complemented by an assortment of other skilled performers. Here's what we have in this album.
Tracks 1-3 Brandenburg Concerto No. 3, BCJ -- Performed at an astonishingly breakneck pace (especially the third movement), the strings are skillful and lyrical. At this very upbeat tempo, the third movement becomes an unfolding of changing textures, in the spirit of Philip Glass, which is an interesting change from other slower performances. Like all the BCJ tracks here, the recording is superb.
4 Toccata and Fugue in D Minor -- A polished and enjoyable performance, like many other recordings of this work. For a very different interpretation that I like better, filled with energy, check out Bach Organ Blaster, with Michael Murray as the organist.
5-7 Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, again with the BCJ. -- Very nice, and well-recorded. The harpsichord solo in the first movement is not my favorite interpretation, but it's fine and precise in every way.
8 Prelude in C Minor for Solo Lute -- Mellow, nicely recorded.
9-13 Orchestral Suite No. 3 in D Major, BCJ -- Another fine performance from the BCJ, and wonderfully recorded. A gem.
14-20 Orchestral Suite No. 2 in B Minor, Drottningholm Baroque Ensemble -- Very good sound, and a solid performance in the European style. Includes the famous Bourree which does not disappoint.
21-26 Partita No. 3 in E Major -- This virtuoso work for solo violin is performed by the very accomplished Nobuko Imai. Solid. The Rondo in the third movement is one of my favorite Bach pieces.
27-31 Partita No. 2 in D Minor -- Another virtuoso work for solo violin. Recorded in a larger hall than the previous Partita, so it has a different sound. Conrad von der Goltz is also very good. I think I like Nobuko Imai's performance of the No. 3 a bit better.
32 Sheep May Safely Graze, from Cantata BWV 208 -- This is performed by a brass band, which is a very different sound than the usual baroque orchestra. It's a very nice mellow sound.
33-42 Cantata BWV 147, BCJ -- Includes the famous chorale Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring. A beautiful performance of the full cantata, very nicely recorded, with excellent soloists.
43 Fugue in G Minor for Solu Lute -- Very nice performance of music that Bach also used in different settings.
44-49 Six Schubler Chorales -- Performed by Hans Fagius, organist. The sound is very spacious and pleasing. Fagius uses good voicing on the organ.
50 Aria and 30 Variations from the Goldberg Variations -- Very nice harpsichord, and very well recorded.
51-53 Sonata in E-Flat Major for Flute and Harpsichord -- Very pleasing performance and recording, but to my ear not distinguished in any particular way.
54 Adagio in B Minor from the Easter Oratorio, BCJ -- The Easter Oratorio is one of my favorite Bach works. The Adagio is slow and plaintive. Nicely recorded as are all the BCJ tracks.
55-60 Suite No. 1 in G Major -- This is a virtuoso work for solo cello. Torleif Thedeen's tone and technique are great. And it's recorded very nicely. You'll often hear more than one string on the cello played together. This is a difficult technique to master, and integral to this work (and also to the earlier Partitas for violin). Solid.
61-66 Concerto No. 2 in E Major, BCJ -- Another wonderful performance from the BCJ. Just beautiful in every way.
67 Fugue in G Minor -- This is the famous Little Fugue for organ. This is performed on a small organ (or at least with small voicing), which suits the piece well. The tempo is very moderate. I'm accustomed to hearing this played at a somewhat more upbeat tempo. Nevertheless, it's an enjoyable recording.
68-73 Suite in E Minor for Solo Lute -- Again by Jakob Lindberg, this is a polished performance. The solo lute is mellow and relaxing. Try this one as background music over a romantic dinner.
74-76 Double Concerto in D Minor, BCJ -- Yet another very fine recording from the BCJ.
77-79 Double Concerto in C Minor, BCJ -- Also from the BCJ, and excellent in every way. The solo oboe is beautiful and lyrical.
80 Fantasia and Fugue in G Minor -- An organ work performed by Otto Winter. Fine in every way, but also check out the very energetic recording of this on Bach Organ Blaster by Michael Murray.
81-85 Inventions for Harpsichord -- Performed by Masaaki Suzuki, founder and conductor of the BCJ. Excellent performances, and very nicely recorded.
86-88 Concerto in A Major -- Solid performance in old-school European style.
89-91 Concerto in G Minor -- Another performance in the European style. The tempo should be a bit faster, in my humble opinion. But a nice recording, very enjoyable.
92 Suite No. 3 in C Major -- This virtuoso work for solo cello is performed very nicely by Torleif Thedeen. Romantic and lyrical.
93-100 Mass in B Minor (highlights), BCJ -- The B-minor mass is one of Bach's best large works. The perfomance is solid, the recording impeccable. Excellent chorus and soloists.
In summary, this is an excellent collection, and an impressive value. Most of the performances are superb, and there aren't any real losers here at all. Highly recommended.