Can anyone recommend a particularly good recording of Bach’s Cello Suites? So far in my reading Isserlis and Rostropovich’s names keep coming up, but it’s such a popular thing to record that there are lots of others to choose from and I’m lost. Of my other Cello based recordings I’m a big fan of Jacqueline Du Pre is that’s any help. Thanks
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János Starker recorded them five times and each set is excellent. The fifth set however is astounding.
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Could you offer a more detail on the exact recording? I see one of his on HDTracks and I’d like to be sure. Thanks for taking the time to offer your take.
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Here it is: click
The sound is wonderfully warm and full as well.
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Many thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to you!
recently I’ve been listening to these:
On EPR
On EMI/Warner:
On Sony, Ma’s second recording of the six suites (he recently recorded them again)
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also worth checkin’ out…
I really appreciate all the choices. Thank to all for the suggestions
I have that Fournier set on vinyl. It was a landmark recording, not least for the audio quality.
This should be read for historical perspective, and then listened to:
https://www.ft.com/content/9ad9220c-7b81-11dc-8c53-0000779fd2ac
Casals made the cello suites well known by performing them at the Wigmore Hall. The last set I heard performed there was by Stephen Isserlis, which was remarkable, but I don’t have his recording and I think his recording was on another cello, he now has a Stradivarius borrowed from the Royal College of Music.
We have tickets for Jean-Guihen Queyras playing the cello suites next April, as part of a dance programme by Anne Teresa de Keersmaker. Can’t wait.
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I like Gendron on Phillips,
I very much prefer the 1963-65 recordings of Janos Starker to everything else (not knowing his other versions).
I have the below pictured SACD version which unfortunately is vastly inferior sounding to the below pictured vinyl box set, so try to get another one if you need digital.
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This is my absolute favorite…not quite HIFI, not perfect in mechanics, BUT the energy is adictive. I have Gendron, starker, YoYoMa, they are all “better” sounding but the energy of the Casal is incontrovertible
- Title: Bach: Cello Suites (2011 - Remaster)
- Artist: Pablo Casals
- Genre: Classical, Instrumental, Classic 100 Classical, Classical Legends
- Label: Warner Classics/Erato
- Release Date: 2012
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If anyone wants to buy this set in heavy vinyl, mint, let me know
https://store.acousticsounds.com/d/14235/Janos_Starker-Bach_6_Cello_Suites-Vinyl_Box_Sets
Also I will just add…I think the Gendron is the most technically executed, but again the Casal has the most energy of what Ive heard
Yeah now the even better 45RPM with an even better mastering are coming, but I’ll keep those anyway as sometimes I just want to play without flipping sides too often 
This one is on Tidal and sounds pretty dang good.
Bach: Complete Suites for Unaccompanied Cello
by [Quirine Viersen] 36 Tracks — 2:10:33
Release date11/16/2018
Also check out Gendron on the phillips Label
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This would definitely be the one for my desert island collection!!! If I can take two… what would be the second one?
Agree. And I also have the Rostropovich, both Ma’s & the Starker in my collection.
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Fournier has turned up on Qobuz in 24/192. Whoever wrote the note prefers Starker. I’ll stick with Fournier and my vinyl.
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Thanks, Steven. I’ll give this a try.