在音乐结构、艺术魅力和思想深度上都举世无双，自1901年被卡萨尔斯"发现"并介绍给全世界的听众以来，它们便成了无限意义的延伸，更被誉为演奏家技巧与修养的试金石，史塔克、罗斯特罗波维奇、傅尼叶、马友友等无数大师都屡次争相诠释这一纪念碑式作品。
作为二十世纪最伟大的大提琴演奏家，史塔克已经先后五次灌录巴赫的这一惊世巨作，都获得了极好的评论，并为他带来了1998年度葛莱美"最佳器乐独奏奖"的荣耀。本专辑收录的是他在70岁高龄之际，于RCA灌录的第五次录音。史塔克认为对美的追求永无止境，他冀求每一次的演奏，都更接近这套乐曲的真理。
对比以前的四次，此第五次演奏录音里，细节更多，表现也更精确，史塔克在展现着他的速度与演奏力度的同时，以其一贯充满活力的风格诠释着，琴声中，充满了对生命的热情和坚毅。

Hilary Hahn (born November 27, 1979) is an American violinist. She has performed throughout the world both as a soloist with leading orchestras and conductors and as a recitalist. She has also built a reputation as a champion of contemporary music. Several composers have written works for her, including concerti by Edgar Meyer and Jennifer Higdon, partitas by Antón García Abril, and a violin and piano sonata by Lera Auerbach.