JS Bach reviews
A guide to JS Bach's St Matthew Passion and its best recordings
A powerful setting of Jesus's final days, the St Matthew Passion was responsible for the resurgence of interest in JS Bach's sacred choral music after the composer's death. Here is our guide to understanding the work and our recommendations for its best recording
A guide to Bach Mass in B minor and its best recordings
The sheer variety and craftsmanship of JS Bach’s final choral masterpiece, Mass in B minor, enthral Paul Riley as he chooses the finest recordings
Salisbury Meditation
John Challenger (organ) (AJM)
Craig Odgen in Concert
Craig Ogden (guitar) (Chandos)
Jesu meine Freude
BachWerkVokal/Gordon Safari (MDG)
The Best Recordings of JS Bach's Goldberg Variations
This work is a staple in classical keyboard repertoire. Here we list the best recordings of JS Bach's Goldberg Variations from the last 20 years.
Bach Nostalghia
Francesco Piemontesi (piano) (Pentatone)
JS Bach: Klavierwerke
Rinaldo Alessandrini (harpsichord) (Naïve)
Bach Unbuttoned
Ana de la Vega (flute), et al; Württembergisches Kammerorchester Heilbronn (Pentatone)
Prism III (Danish String Quartet)
Danish String Quartet (ECM)
JS Bach: The Well-Tempered Consort, Vol. 2
Phantasm (Linn Records)
Respighi: Transcriptions
Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège/John Neschling (BIS)
Spira, Spera
Emmanuel Despax (piano) (Signum Classics)
JS Bach: Sonatas and Partitas
Augustin Hadelich (violin) (Warner Classics)
JS Bach: Complete Keyboard Works, Vol. 4
Benjamin Alard (keyboards) (Harmonia Mundi)
Piazzolla Reflections
Ksenija Sidorova (accordion), et al; BBC National Orchestra of Wales/Clark Rundell; NDR Elbphilharmonie Orchester/Thomas Henglebrock (Alpha Classics)
JS Bach • Mozart • Schubert: Sonatas, etc
Piano Duo Scholtes & Janssens (Challenge)
JS Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II (Anderszewski)
Piotr Anderszewski (piano) (Warner Classics)
JS Bach: Harpsichord Concertos (Corti)
Il Pomo d’Oro/Francesco Corti (harpsichord) (Pentatone)
Villa-Lobos: Choral Transcriptions
São Paulo Symphony Choir/Valentina Peleggi (Naxos)
Rapa Nui Odyssey
Mahani Teave (piano) (Rubicon)
Vida breve (Stephen Hough)
Stephen Hough (piano) (Hyperion)
Bach & Beyond, Part 3
Jennifer Koh (violin) (Cédille)
All Around Bach
Stepan Simonian (piano), et al (CAvi-music)