Best Vinyl Bach - Solo Cello Suites recording?


Hi All,

Been looking for this out on the bay, but there are so many, i'm not sure which is best. I've already read that Starkers interpretation is the "best" -- that is, most accurate, lively, etc. I'm not after this though -- I want the "best" recording of it. Starkers version is $100+ for a 3lp set, Casals 25-50, YoYoMa $70ish. Do you have any experience with these recordings? What are your thoughts?

Thx,
mm
128x128martinman
Johnnyb, totally agree on Harrell. He is a consummate musician, and I find the sound of his cello much to my liking. I've heard Starker, Ma, Mork, Alban Gerhardt, Bailey, and so many others live. I've heard Ma live multiple times. Harrell beats them all. Best Dvorak concerto I have ever heard, and not by a slim margin. Funny, I have so few Harrel recordings. That is a deficiency I really should rectify.

I never had the pleasure of hearing Rostropovich.
I have only heard two players of note play the cello suites
live.
One was Rostopovich, the other Anner Bylsma who is the towering figure of historically informed music on the cello and a musician declared a national treasure by the Dutch.
Can't say one was better than the other. I thought Rostopovich made the music sing, Byslsma made it dance.
If you want a CD, Bylsma made a recording of it using a borrowed strad which is most wonderful and the one I listen to over and over.
Schubert,
I envy your opportunities of hearing these suites played live by two such towering masters. Thanks for the tip on the Byslsma set. I just ordered a copy.
Schubert and Dougdecon, I also ordered a used copy of the Byslsma set. Looks like this is out of print, with fairly high used prices. Anyone who wants to get a reasonably priced copy should act fast.