This mid-priced reissue offers music lovers a golden opportunity to hear one of the truly great sets of Brandenburg Concertos. Listeners familiar with the fast, super-bright sound of certain famous British and German authentic instrument groups such as The English Concert or Musica Antiqua Köln, will find much to savor in these warmly dark-toned versions. Gamba player turned conductor Jordi Savall treats each work with positively epicurean relish. It goes without saying that he plays the two strings-only works (Nos. 3 and 6, and especially this last, which is scored entirely for "low" instruments) with an ideal balance of contrapuntal clarity and forward momentum, but there really isn't a dud in the lot. The prevailingly rich bass textures only serve to emphasize the brilliance of No. 2's solo trumpet, No. 4's recorders, or the solo harpsichord in No. 5. The deliciously fruity wind sonorities in No. 1 will also prove a source of delight. If you love these works, you should add this recording to your collection. Magnificent sound too. [10/2/2000]

--David Hurwitz