[.ca] Unaccompanied Cello Suites Co

From Amazon.com:
This is Yo-Yo Ma's first recording of Bach's Cello Suites, digitally recorded in 1983 and first issued on LP. He has since made a second recording of the Suites in 1998, taken from the soundtrack of a video series, so it's interesting that the earlier set remains available. If you've been lucky enough to hear Ma play this music in concert, you'll realize that neither set represents his Bach at its best. This rendition is generally quite straightforward, beautifully played and musically sound but sometimes not very emotional. The second set is more expressive but frequently seems self-conscious. Either of these recordings is a worthy representation of Bach's superb music, but neither attains the mature eloquence of Starker's final recording, a level Ma will probably reach himself in his third recording. --Leslie Gerber

sweet:
Pablo Casals was the first to regard these suites as concert pieces rather than mere technical exercises, or so we are told. Rostropovich approaches them with great reverence, but perhaps too much reverence. Depending on your mood or musical philosophy you may well prefer the happy medium we have here. (I think of the guitar: the rich vibrato of Andre Segovia and Christopher Parkening in contradistinction to the dryer sound preferred by many modern guitarists, and someone such as Ron Rendek, say, falls more or less in-between.)

Sets a new performance standard:
While I have heard only one other piece played in a different style for whom I can compare to, I must admit that I believe this is an almost perfect rendition of all Bach's Cello Suites. I wonder where any criticism can come in, except to say that maybe his breathing is annoying. But who can stop their breath? Especially when you need to put so much heart into this beautiful thing... Perhaps it's disappointing to note that these musical melodies will activate not just your pleasure centers, but also the faces you take when you think. This will change a dinner's mood to philosophical and otherwise. You'll be forced--that's the key ingredient to good music--to pay attention. You can't walk around, you must sit, and, listen. There is no other way to say this: the performance is flawless. It has no style. He has become a perfect melody of nothing, allowing the full style of Bach himself to come through, throwing away his ego's tendency to improvise. Noting that the pieces were meant to be played in full, these are the only cello recordings I believe that can be viewed, heard, smelt, felt, and understood through the whole recording. Other artists playing these works manage to gather up large emotional swells within us, but only for the beginning five minutes or so. Or so the first minute shows us, until we get bored and stop the music. These are pure rhythm-meditations, designed to make us think. Not for relaxation, but for peace.

Perfect performance:
This relaxing music makes me move from work to rest. It's really enjoyable when I am extremely tired. It turns my mind into the wave of the Cello. All the trouble goes to my back. Surely, it's worth to collect.

Exquisite!:
A lot could be written about this recording. Let me just say that this is everything music should be: profoundly moving, simultaneously cerebral and visceral, and timeless. With out a doubt, Bach is pure genius and Ma does these compositions justice.

A Britney Spears Version of 6 Cello suites:
This was my first Bach's 6 Cello suites. In deed, it is very nice album. But the way Mr. Ma played this piece was somewhat too popular music alike. Let me say the Britney Spears version of 6 cello suites. Definitely Mr. Ma contributed the popularity of Cello music in general.(I started to listen to Cello music by his pieces and I still like his!) However, sometimes I like to hear very classical classic music! Also I like to own a piece that lasts forever! If you are a novice to classical music, you'd better start with this recording, but if you are serious about the piece and like to have a piece that lasts forever, go with Fournier or Casals. I personally recommend Fournier, only because the recording quality is better than Casals. You will not regret either of them. Also you can hear the warmth, the touch and the feeling, not like Yo Yo Ma's this recording ( I know that there is another release for Mr. Ma's 6 cello suites, I am wondering how it is)

• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Prelude
• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Allemande
• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Courante
• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Sarabande
• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Menuett
• Suite No. 1, S. 1007 In G Major: Gigue
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Prelude
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Allemande
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Courante
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Sarabande
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Bourree
• Suite No. 4, S. 1010 In E-Flat Major: Gigue
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Prelude
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Allemande
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Courante
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Sarabande
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Gavotte
• Suite No. 5, S. 1011 In C Minor: Gigue
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Prelude
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Allemande
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Courante
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Sarabande
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Menuett
• Suite No. 2, S. 1008 In D Minor: Gigue
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Prelude
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Allemande
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Courante
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Sarabande
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Bouree
• Suite No. 3, S. 1009 In C Major: Gigue
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Prelude
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Allemande
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Courante
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Sarabande
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Gavotte
• Suite No. 6, S. 1012 In D Major: Gigue