Suites for Solo Cello

This is Janos Starker's fifth recording of Bach's cello suites. His third set, for Mercury (423 756-2), is even more perfectly played. But the musical maturity, the subtlety of inflection and expression, in this set is truly incomparable. Unlike his earlier recordings, Starker now plays all the marked repeats in the score, making them an even richer experience. This playing satisfies all requirements of the head and the heart; it makes every point you want to hear, and it's profoundly moving. This recording is one of the best Bach sets in the catalogs, and one of the most justified Grammy awards ever. --Leslie Gerber