Bach: Six Suites Unaccompanied For Cello

For what it's worth, I like the Starker, but haven't heard the others. This isn't my favorite Starker recording though. That would be Starker plays Chopin, Bartok, Mendelssohn, Martinu, Debussy, Weiner. Mercury # 434 358-2. Check this out if you are not already aware of it. Skip the first half of the disc recorded in the UK, and go directly to the recordings made in Ballroom studio A in NY. Awesome energy and sound from Starker with Gyorgy Sebok on piano. They're on fire!

Bach: Six Suites Unaccompanied For Cello I have two out of three with not hearing the Daniil Shafran. I also have the Ma on cd. So for me to pick the one I enjoy the most interpertation wise is hard. The sound of the Bach Mercury recording on SACD is excellent and up front. The Fourneir can't say from memory but sure it is a fine recording on the Archive label.I also have the speaker corner lp but its sealed and have not lstened to it at all...I would guess anyone you chose should satisfy.

I like the Starker recording. Not on your list, but I also like the Rostropovich recording (from EMI). Rostropovich's performance strikes me as a touch less precise than Starker's. This can be a good or a bad thing, depending on your preferences.

You should also listen to the Martin Zeller recording (from MA Recordings). The performance and SQ are extraordinary. Unfortunately, it is only a small selections from the Suites. But Zeller's performance is fascinating, as it sounds the most baroque of the three (at least to my untrained ear). Have fun.

Bryon