Search for new Bach (Piano)
Posted by: mikeeschman on 11 February 2011
The only set of English and French Suites I have are Glenn Gould on LP.
I am tired of Gould and my turntable.
I would like something that is new, preferably performed within the last 5 or 6 years, and on a cd.
Something you could feel passionate about ...
Can anyone help ?
I am tired of Gould and my turntable.
I would like something that is new, preferably performed within the last 5 or 6 years, and on a cd.
Something you could feel passionate about ...
Can anyone help ?
Posted on: 11 February 2011 by Florestan
Mike,
Lots of choices for you here but I'll limit my response to three good choices that range in age through the last twenty years or so.
Only thing to point out is that I don't think Perahia has committed the French Suites to disc yet? Someone may correct me here? I can get passionate about any one of these performers and my Bach library contains most everything these three have done.
Regards,
Doug
Lots of choices for you here but I'll limit my response to three good choices that range in age through the last twenty years or so.
- Murray Perahia
- Angela Hewitt
- Andras Schiff
Only thing to point out is that I don't think Perahia has committed the French Suites to disc yet? Someone may correct me here? I can get passionate about any one of these performers and my Bach library contains most everything these three have done.
Regards,
Doug
Posted on: 11 February 2011 by Florestan
I thought I'd share a nice quote of Bach that Perahia provides to preface his notes:
"The ultimate end and aim of thoroughbass should only be the glorification of God and the recreation of the mind. Where these are not kept in view, there can be no real music-only infernal jingling and bellowing."
Of course, this is entirely true for the entire output of Bach's music and it should be no surprise that this is why his music has such a natural or seamless flow and spirituality about it.
Doug
"The ultimate end and aim of thoroughbass should only be the glorification of God and the recreation of the mind. Where these are not kept in view, there can be no real music-only infernal jingling and bellowing."
Of course, this is entirely true for the entire output of Bach's music and it should be no surprise that this is why his music has such a natural or seamless flow and spirituality about it.
Doug
Posted on: 12 February 2011 by fred simon
I really like Barenboim's WTC
Posted on: 12 February 2011 by likesmusic
Murray Perahias Goldbergs is one of the most perfect musical experiences I've ever had.
Posted on: 12 February 2011 by EJS
Hi Mike,
Angela Hewitt's Bach series is very good in general, and includes some truly outstanding interpretations. I am particularly partial to her (second complete) Wohl-Temperierte Clavier and French suites. All her solo recordings minus her first WTC have been collected in a budget box.
EJ
Angela Hewitt's Bach series is very good in general, and includes some truly outstanding interpretations. I am particularly partial to her (second complete) Wohl-Temperierte Clavier and French suites. All her solo recordings minus her first WTC have been collected in a budget box.
EJ
Posted on: 12 February 2011 by mikeeschman
I ordered the Hewitt French Suites, because I love her WTC and I like my Bach on a Faziloi :-)
Posted on: 12 February 2011 by Florestan
Mike, sorry to disappoint you but most of the Bach recorded by Hewitt would be on a Hamburg Steinway grand. She only recently (maybe 5 or 6 years?) really jumped on this Fazioli thing. I'm positive the French Suites will not be on a Fazioli.
I agree that the instrument can play a role but find that a good recording is still the key. You can have good or bad recordings of Steinways and Faziolis; there are good and bad Steinways and Faziolis, in general. Maybe a particular Steinway or Fazioli might suit different pieces better and others not.
In general though, if the recorded sound is pleasing then this allows one to fully focus on the craft, ingenuity and beauty of Bach, for instance.
Regards,
Doug
I agree that the instrument can play a role but find that a good recording is still the key. You can have good or bad recordings of Steinways and Faziolis; there are good and bad Steinways and Faziolis, in general. Maybe a particular Steinway or Fazioli might suit different pieces better and others not.
In general though, if the recorded sound is pleasing then this allows one to fully focus on the craft, ingenuity and beauty of Bach, for instance.
Regards,
Doug
Posted on: 14 February 2011 by EJS
Mike,
As Doug said, Hewitt did indeed record the French suites and almost all other Bach on a Steinway. The recorded quality evolved quite a bit as she worked her way through Bach over the years, becoming gradually better. But her (1995ish) French suites are already very easy on the ear. I started listening yesterday evening again, and finished both discs in a single session. Great stuff.
EJ
As Doug said, Hewitt did indeed record the French suites and almost all other Bach on a Steinway. The recorded quality evolved quite a bit as she worked her way through Bach over the years, becoming gradually better. But her (1995ish) French suites are already very easy on the ear. I started listening yesterday evening again, and finished both discs in a single session. Great stuff.
EJ
Posted on: 14 February 2011 by Todd A
If you need complete sets, then I'd say Andras Schiff for the French Suites and Murray Perahia for the English Suites, though both recordings are a bit older than you ask for. (They also both released new sets of the Partitas in the last couple years; Schiff is better here to my ears.) If you don't need complete sets, and/or you relax your age requirement a bit, then Piotr Anderszewski (Virgin & Harmonia Mundi for different works), Martha Argerich, and Ivo Pogorelich are all quite fine, Argerich especially.