J.S. BACH: The French Suites; Italian Concerto; Fantasia and Fugue -Francesco Cera, harpsichord – Arts multichannel SACD (2 discs) Disc 1: 70:34, Disc 2: 62:13 [Distr. by Albany] *****:
Both Bach’s French Suites and English Suites for harpsichord or clavichord were given their appellations after his death, but in the case of the first the naming is actually erroneous since the six suites actually follow Italian musical conventions, not French. Composed around 1720, these are not just abstract instrumental works with no special program. Like nearly all of Bach’s music – sacred or secular – there is a strong sense of the spiritual and religious basis of human life. These suites may be seen as taking a human being tormented by sin and hardship thru prayer and faith to salvation and the joy of God’s grace.
Each suite has from five to eight movements – nearly all dance forms such as Allemande, Courante, Sarabande etc. The instrument which Cera has chosen is somewhat unusual – an accurate copy constructed in 2006 after a French double-manual instrument of 1691. It boasts clever technical solutions designed to achieve a more clear polyphonic effect than the generally blurred sound of many 18th century French harpsichords. Cera is very precise in his finger work and Arts has given him glorious hi-res surround sonics which demonstrate what a rich sound a properly designed, played and recorded harpsichord can produce. No skeletons on the tin roof here! Cera performs with Diego Fasolis’ I Barocchisti and is known for his innovative playing of all the known Scarlatti harpsichord sonatas at the Flanders Festival and having recorded three CDs of selections from them.
I was surprised to see that only one other SACD of the French Suites is easily available, on the Aeolus label by Bob von Asperen. He eliminated most repeats to get the suites to fit on a single disc, and he also used the lower French pitch of 392 Hz (as on the new Egarr Brandenburg Concertos SACDs I am simultaneously reviewing). I didn’t have this version at hand but I understand it suffers considerable background noise – hiss or whirring sounds. The Cera recording is at normal 415 Hz pitch and it has an absolutely silent noise floor. It is also satisfying to have the fine performance of the Italian Concerto as well as the less-well-known Fantasia and Fugue in A minor.
— John Sunier
