At Last Bach Really Hits the Spot

You meant you are interested in quality Bach in general. Besides the Manze/Podger disc, consider these excellent recordings:

For the violin sonatas, again look at Carmignola on Sony (SK 89469).

For chamber music (Brandenburg Concertos, etc.), Cafe Zimmermann's three volumes on the French label Alpha (Alpha 013, 048, and 071).

For orchestral music, the recent Pearlman/Boston Baroque Orchestral Suites on Telarc is really solid, and it fits on one disc (CD-80619). (Also SA-CD.)

For intellectually demanding (even by Bach's standards), Concerto Italiano's Keyboard Concertos and their fantastic version of The Art of the Fugue in the Opus 111 "Tete a Tete" 2CD is a great deal (OP 20011).

Don't know if you're also interested in vocal. You must have a Mass in B Minor? I really love the recent "one voice per part" version by Cantus Colln on Harmonia Mundi (901813.14). (Also SA-CD.)

There's so much... Check out his fugues. Many are absolutely amazing, and they revolutionized musical form.

Below is a listing of some very nice recordings by Rachel Podger. She plays a baroque violin and is on the channel classics label which are also well engineered recordings.

Another composer which you don't hear much about is Antonio Albinoni, I have his Adagios and they are beautiful.

Chuck

Rameau: Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts / Pinnock, et al

Format: CD SACD Hybrid (72338519002)

Release Date: Feb 11, 2003
Catalog #: CCSSA 19002
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 67 Mins

Bach: Sonatas for Violin and Obbligato Harpsichord / Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338514798)

Release Date: Jan 9, 2001
Catalog #: CCS 14798
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 2
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 139 Mins

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas Vol 2 / Rachel Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338514498)

Release Date: Nov 16, 1999
Catalog #: CCS 14498
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 66 Mins

Bach: Sonatas & Partitas Vol 1 / Rachel Podger

Format: Compact Disc (72338512198)

Release Date: June 8, 1999
Catalog #: CCS 12198
Label: Channel Classics
Spars: DDD
Pieces in Set: 1
Recorded in: Stereo
Length: 76 Mins

I am familiar with just a few of the above. This will be fun to explore.

Bach is one of those composers that you can listen to over and over and wonder why everyone thinks he's so great. But then it clicks and if you can connect, it's usually gives you an experience that no other composer can give you.

Good for you - I hope you find more that will keep you engaged in music.