Best Brandenburg Concerto recording CD

Rufus, I think you're exagerating a little, but I do see your point. Britten's recordings with Decca are nice, full-bodied and definitely a different sound than the leaner sound we've almost become acustomed to with the period instruments performances that have been dominating the new releases. Alpass, the Pearlman I'm referring to is the Telarc version, the only one of which I'm aware.

Just curious I was given a bunch of old classical lp's mostly unplayed and in the collection is a Brandenburg Concerto boxed set on the Telefunken label. It's all in German so I can't understand much but I think the condctor is Nikolous Harnoncourt and it seems as if original instruments are used. I know zero about classical is this set any good either musically or sonically? I'm currently between turntables and so can't give it a listen. I don't mean to hijack the thread, I thought my question dovetailed nicely with the original.

Great question. I didn't see my favorite among the answers and it's a super pick. Karl Ristenpart with the Orchestre de Chambre de la Sarre. It comes in a 6 CD box set that ALSO includes:The art of the Fugue, Suites for Orchestra, Triple Concerto for Flute, Violin and Harpsichord, and Concerto for Multiple Harpsichords.

The performances are just wonderful. They were recorded in 1960 and 1965 and remastered in 2000. The sound is absolutely lovely with the players performing in an older more Central European style than the Pinnock, Marriner and Hogwood versions which I also own and enjoy. I picked it up New recently on the Internet for about $45 with shipping. You won't go wrong and, you'll pick up some spirited performances of other Bach compositions that will get your feet tapping like a metronome on fire.

Highly recommended set.......... ISBN: 028946589328
REL2

i sampled sections of the pearlman recording of the brandenburgs today.

i find this performance lacks the spirit of the baroque period.

i guess this thread reveals that we all have our favorite performances and one is not intrinsically better than another.

The Harnoncourt version is a good buy. It is an energetic - dramatic concept of the Brandenburgs played on original instruments. You simply could not go wrong with it.