Hungarian violinist, conductor, and educator Sándor Végh was one of the most gifted musicians of the 20th century, and every one of his all-too-few recordings...

Hungarian violinist, conductor, and educator Sándor Végh was one of the most gifted musicians of the 20th century, and every one of his all-too-few recordings with his own, handpicked ensemble, the Camerata Academica, has something worthwhile to offer. This set of Bach Overtures, recorded live in 1983/84 at the Salzburg Festival, is no exception. Végh's musicianship makes questions of performance practice utterly irrelevant. Where, for example, will you hear the Third Suite's famous Air played with such lyrical purity and eloquence, and the ensuing Gavotte bursting forth with such joy? Listen to the B minor Suite's witty interplay of flute and strings, a performance with the give-and-take of true chamber music. Note how, in the two D major Suites, the trumpets penetrate the prevailing string textures with effortless clarity and balance, and not a trace of harshness. In short, Végh's performances have that special timelessness and universality that only happens when supreme musicality and cultivated taste combine in one harmonious package. If you love these works, you must hear this recording.

--David Hurwitz, ClassicsToday.com