Classical: Bach Collegium Japan

Brandenburg Concertos, Japan

Bach Collegium Japan is taking time out from a complete Bach cantata cycle (estimated completion 2015) to release some of the instrumental works – last year the violin concertos, now the Brandenburgs. Like everything they do, this set is informed by lightly worn scholarship and Masaaki Suzuki's fine musical sensibility. Some will balk at the trumpet in the second concerto – created by its player and sounding as if it is made from jelly – but in spite of the wobble, its tone is extraordinary and proves that old music can still be performed in a radically different way.