J.S. Bach: Brandenburg Concertos, Vol. 2

Helmut Müller-Brühl and his Cologne Chamber Orchestra continue their fleet-footed traversal of Bach's formidable yet familiar Brandenburg terrain (see review of Vol. I), finishing the set with Nos. 4 and 5, and completing the intelligently compiled and generous program with two concertos that Bach reworked from earlier pieces: the so-called "Triple Concerto", for flute, violin, and harpsichord, and a transposed version of the Brandenburg No. 4 with harpsichord replacing solo violin. Here, the whole ensemble is appreciably more in synch than on Volume I, and Corinne Chapelle's violin solo work in No. 4 is brilliant. Robert Hill keeps up the virtuoso standard with his facile harpsichord finger-work in a sizzling No. 5. Nevertheless, you get the feeling that rolling the general pace of all the movements back just a notch would have left some welcome breathing space and still retained the energy and impetus that Müller-Brühl so determinedly desires. The rarely heard Triple Concerto, with its charming slow movement (and sensitively realized interpretation) and the equally scarce F major transcription (with some impressive recorder playing) are a real bonus. It's especially useful to have both versions of Brandenburg No. 4 on the same disc. The sound is detailed and well-balanced, but the bass register of the harpsichord seems nearly absent. --David Vernier, ClassicsToday.com