SR-90370: J.S. BACH: Suites For Unaccompanied Violoncello
No.2 in D minor, No.5 in C minor
Janos Starker

	Label Type :	Maroon Mercury Stereo Living Presence High Fidelity (“Vendor”)
	Matrix Number :	SIDE-A	SR-90370A-RFR-1    P17    SCP    RR    I
		SIDE-B	SR-90370B-RFR-1    P17    SCP    RR    I

Comments

Equivalent release: Mercury MG-50370 (mono).

A few years later these tracks were reissued as a part of 3LP box OL3-116 / SR3-9016 with other 4 Bach Suites.

RFR pressing: This earliest RFR-1 pressings sounds great with fruitful stereophonic reververations as well as sharpened focus, although the label is “Vendor” type. However, judging from the sound itself, it is probable that a sort of equalizers was used during the mastering, which was (fortunately) not too strong though. Anyway, this disc can play much better sounds than recent CD reissues IMHO.

Please note both the label and the back cover denotes the Suite No.2 as “A minor”, while it is actually “D minor”.

Personal Impression (and brief notes)

The Maestro Janos Starker's first appearance on Mercury label was MG-10146, MG-80004 and MG-50094 (KODALY: Quartet No.1, Op.2) recorded in 1953.

In 1962 he recorded a series of cello concertos recordings with Dorati (LSO) and Skrowaczewski (LSO); also recorded some piano/cello duo tracks with Gyorgy Sebök. Then in 1963, Janos Starker started to record the famous Bach's unaccompanied violoncello suites. Actually No.2 and No.5 were cut in 1963, while No,1, No,3, No.4 and No.6 were in 1965.

I have not heard so many performances of this Bach's masterpiece by various cellists to compare among each other, but this Starker's performance (especially No.5) is truly awesome. The great “Living Presence” recording might contribute to capture this supreme performance.

Strictly Personal Rating (to what extent I could enjoy this album)

10 out of 10

Track Listing

Personnel

Personnel/recorded date/master numbers confirmed with the Ruppli's discography.
(“The Mercury Labels - A Discography” by Ruppli and Novitsky, Greenwood Press, 1993)

Side-A:
Janos Starker (cello).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studio A, New York City on afternoon of April 15, 1963.

B-2, B-3, B-4, B-5, B-6:
Janos Starker (cello).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studio A, New York City on evening of April 15, 1963.

B-1:
Janos Starker (cello).
Recorded at Fine Recording Studio A, New York City on evening of April 17, 1963.

Harold Lawrence, recording director.
Robert Eberenz, engineer.
Tape-to-disc transfer for the stereophonic disc by George Piros.
Tape-to-disc transfer for the monaural disc by John Johnson.

Jackets

Front	Back

Labels

Side A	Side B