Antonio Meneses. Bach Cello Suites CD Avie AV 0052 released 2007
Reviewed Streamed CD quality 24/44.1 on Tidal.
Recorded in St Martin’s Church, East Woodhay, Berkshire, UK 2-5 June 2004
Instrument used, 1840 Jean-Baptiste Vuillaumme cello
The cellist
Brazilian born, Antonio Meneses began his cello studies at the age of ten. At the age of 16, he starts lessons with Italian cellist Antonio Janigro. In 1982, he won first Prize and gold Medal at the Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
As well as a top level international solo artist Meneses has been cellist with the Beaux Art trio from 1998 until 2008 when the trio disbanded.
Judging by his personal web site, Meneses still has a rigorous schedule of solo and chamber music concerts as well as masterclasses. Evidently, in his mid sixties no sign of retirement yet!
The recording.
Although Meneses made this recording in a Church, there is no excessive reverberation or echo. In fact I am tempted to suggest it is a little “dry”. Importantly, there is very little extraneous noise from the performer. The tonal qualities and range of the cello are captured well with a fairly forward sound stage. So all in all ideal for appreciation of the music!
The music.
This is very much what I would term a hybrid style performance with little obvious vibrato. There is an open unforced tone. In addition, there is a mixture of legato playing in slower movements with good articulation in the faster movements. The first Prelude may surprise. Meneses chooses to separate the notes rather than play grouped in one or two bows each bar. I prefer the separation as it allows clearer shaping of the phrases within each bar.
There really is little point in going into detail of each Suite as this is a very mainstream interpretation as far as the speeds and phrasing is concerned. That is not to say it is anything less than outstanding in terms of technique, intonation and phrasing! Meneses instils total confidence in his abilities which makes for a relaxed listening experience. The playing is rhythmic and has a clear sense of forward direction with minimal rubato. Dynamics are muted in my opinion which may be the issue that nags me about this recording. I do just feel it lacks a little magic or sparkle, which grips the attention and makes a listener sit up.
The fifth Sarabande is played in a lovely legato style and sounds suitably bleak and forlorn, but my eyes remained dry. Perhaps it’s me but whilst this recording is objectively one of the best, subjectively it remains with many other worthy issues which I am not drawn to return to.
Conclusion.
This is a top drawer recording technically and deserves audition. I defy you to identify any slips of intonation! However the recording does not communicate fully with me and other reviews do seem to suggest a perfunctory approach to some movements.
Charles.
Stop press! New release see below.
Antonio Meneses 2023.
Antonio Meneses Bach Cello Suites. AZUL AMDA 1859. Released on download/streaming only Dec 2023.
CD release Japan only.
No information provided regards venue or cello played.
Shortly after reviewing the 2005 release by Meneses, I became aware of this very recent release. In addition, I have become aware of an earlier release on Phillips Japan dating back to 1993. This makes Meneses one of the select few cellists to release 3 separate recordings of the Suites.
Brief thoughts.
Firstly, this recording sounds much more resonant and more heft in the bottom end. This may be down to a different cello. More recently a cello by Allesandro Gagliano of Naples, dating 1730 is cited as the instrument used but by a source dated 2015. It really frustrates me that more information is not made available with downloads and not even from the record labels web site! On the other hand there is more echo apparent so I suspect these have been less well dampened in the recording process wherever it took place.
The good news is that strikes me as a more musical rendition than the 2005 release with more give and take in the tempos and phrasing. Dynamics are still not as marked as they might be. In general, overall speed of playing is a little slower with the exception of most Sarabandes which are mostly quicker! The positives of the 2005 recording are maintained with great technique and intonation. Thus with the more musical interpretation, I would be inclined to prefer this latest offering by a narrow margin.
Charles.