Nikolaus Harnoncourt, Concentus Musicus Wien - J.S.Bach: Brandenburg Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4, Overture No. 2 (1997)

Among period-instrument groups, the Concentus Musicus of Vienna and Nikolaus Harnoncourt were pioneers in this repertory. This digital realization of the Brandenburgs, recorded in 1981, was among the first CD renditions out of the blocks; it is now available at mid-price. As usual, Harnoncourt seems a bit overemphatic in his point making, at times a bit quirky--as when he draws attention to the solo violin part in Concerto No. 4 by allowing it to indulge in some surprisingly free rubato and unexpectedly legato phrasing (none of the soloists are named, but one can assume the violinist here is Frau Harnoncourt). Harnoncourt's tempos often seem a bit lumbering (e.g., the first movement of Concerto No. 1), and the performances as a whole lack animation. -- Ted Libbey