Tatiana Nikolayeva's Bach

[Herman]

Last night, as I was packing our suitcases for the homeward journey I switched on the radio and found a Valencia classical music station.

Even as I was violating Rule #1 (never touch your wife's underwear in any circumstances) they were broadcasting a beautiful piano version of JS Bach's 3 part Inventions. On the piano. But not Gouldishly controversial.

Turned out it was Tatiana Nikoleyeva  -  best known for her Shostakovich recordings.

It looks like these Inventions are pretty much none available. So maybe I should regard this as one of those moments one hears the most magnficent music on earth (even while violating rule #1) and it's useless to try recapture that moment?

[PSmith08]

Last night, as I was packing our suitcases for the homeward journey I switched on the radio and found a Valencia classical music station.

Even as I was violating Rule #1 (never touch your wife's underwear in any circumstances) they were broadcasting a beautiful piano version of JS Bach's 3 part Inventions. On the piano. But not Gouldishly controversial.

Turned out it was Tatiana Nikoleyeva  -  best known for her Shostakovich recordings.

It looks like these Inventions are pretty much none available. So maybe I should regard this as one of those moments one hears the most magnficent music on earth (even while violating rule #1) and it's useless to try recapture that moment?

One of her recordings of the Inventions and Sinfonias is on iTunes in 256 kbps. Worth a shot, right?

[Norbeone]

But not Gouldishly controversial.

I can't see what you could find particularly controversial about Gould's Inventions and Sinfonias. Or most of his Bach, to be honest.

[Todd]

HMV Japan has a number of Nikolayeva Bach recordings - more than the usual US and European outlets - so you may be able to relive the experience.

[orange]

I have a recording of her playing Bach Kunst der Fuge

[Herman]

I can't see what you could find particularly controversial about Gould's Inventions and Sinfonias. Or most of his Bach, to be honest.

They've got nothing to do with Bach, that's why.

Thanks, Todd, I'll check HMV JP again. The trick is probably to find the right orthography for TN's name.

[springrite]

Last night, as I was packing our suitcases for the homeward journey I switched on the radio and found a Valencia classical music station.

Even as I was violating Rule #1 (never touch your wife's underwear in any circumstances) they were broadcasting a beautiful piano version of JS Bach's 3 part Inventions. On the piano. But not Gouldishly controversial.

Turned out it was Tatiana Nikoleyeva  -  best known for her Shostakovich recordings.

It looks like these Inventions are pretty much none available. So maybe I should regard this as one of those moments one hears the most magnficent music on earth (even while violating rule #1) and it's useless to try recapture that moment?

I have that one, as well as the complete WTC. In total I think I have 7 or 8 of her Bach CDs from Olympia. Her Bach playing is indeed beautiful. However, I must say, I find her playing of all the others I have better than the 2 and 3 Part Inventions, which I find to be rather bland, especially compared to Gould. I also think Gould's recording of the 2 and 3 Part Inventions are the least Gouldishly controversal of all his Bach recordings.

[Herman]

I have that one, as well as the complete WTC. In total I think I have 7 or 8 of her Bach CDs from Olympia. Her Bach playing is indeed beautiful. However, I must say, I find her playing of all the others I have better than the 2 and 3 Part Inventions, which I find to be rather bland, especially compared to Gould. I also think Gould's recording of the 2 and 3 Part Inventions are the least Gouldishly controversal of all his Bach recordings.

Well, there's just no chance I'm going near one of Gould's Bach recordings (I rather like his Brahms intermezzi, which have mysteriously disappeared from my shelves  -  I probably left it in a rented car or something). Right now I'm just happy with the memory of that broadcast, and back to 1) Gustav Leonhardt 2) my own piano.

[karlhenning]

That's a pretty stupid statement as they're his compositions!

One scarce knows just where to begin, sometimes,

[Herman]

That's a pretty stupid statement as they're his compositions!

Of course they are. However if they are performed with so little awareness of the stylististic intentions of the composer, just as virtuoso piano material to be cut and pasted in the studio, then it's not very Bach.

I don't think Gould is "established" as a great Bach interpret. Not in Europe, where Bach is studied and performed a lot. I think it's fair to say Gould was an unique and ideosyncratic performer and poseur, and one of the greatest selling artists in the record business.

[Norbeone]

Of course they are. However if they are performed with so little awareness of the stylististic intentions of the composer, just as virtuoso piano material to be cut and pasted in the studio, then it's not very Bach.

I don't think Gould is "established" as a great Bach interpret. Not in Europe, where Bach is studied and performed a lot. I think it's fair to say Gould was an unique and ideosyncratic performer and poseur, and one of the greatest selling artists in the record business.

Virtuoso piano material? Not established as a great Bach interpreter? I think your purism has shadowed your ability to judge, objectively, to say the least. If I had to take a wild guess, I imagine that Bach would adore the way Gould plays his music, or at least that he wouldn't overly object to it.

[Herman]

I am aware a lot of people are unable to talk about Bach's keyboard music without changing the subject to Gould.

I'm not calling these people dummies, I thank them for their erudite input (it's so unusual to run into someone who's aware of GG's Bach!) and now all I'm hoping for is more stuff about Nicolayeva...

Paul, thanks for your mails, as I said, for the moment I'm resigning myself to the memory of this broadcast.

[Herman]

You should have just asked for Nikoleyeva and left it at that.

thanks for your (unsollicited) advice.

It's hard to top Gould in most of JSB's keyboard music (WTC, Goldbergs, English & French Suites, Partitas, Toccatas, Inventions etc.),

In Your Humble Opinion

[Herman]

I know. There are probably ten Gould fans for every person who listens to more reliable versions of Bach's keyboard music, be it on harpsichord or piano.

[ezodisy]

Charming Herman, but stupid.

Why are you such an obnoxious person? Your knowledge of keyboard history and pianists appears to be very limited, so why so much brute force behind your assertions? Let us all know what you think of Nikolaeva please, and leave it at that.

[prémont]

No, certainly not just mine, of course...

"Christ, there are so many dummies on this board...."

[Bulldog]

Boy, you guys could argue about everything under the sun. 

I'm familiar with three Nikolayeva versions of the Goldbergs: Hyperion, Classico and BBC Legends.  The latter two are excellent.  Her WTC and Art of Fugue also greatly impress. 

Concerning Bach's intentions and how Gould does not adhere to them, I'm glad that there are folks here who know Bach's aims.  I could speculate about those intentions, but I'd rather listen to some interpretations I love.  Both Nikolayeva and Gould are in that category.

[Herman]

Gould's phenomenal creativity & playing throws light on Bach's polyphonic genius. He very much understood Bach's music and was a master, not just as a player but also in his thinking and rationalizing of the music. And his mission in what he brought to Bach was a matter of creativity and imagination not of constant practice and scholarly study. What he brought to Bach took real genius, imagination, desire and artistic integrity.

well, thank you for that. I'm not sure why you think Gould needs to be defended. GG is one of the best selling pianists in history.

[ezodisy]

Seems you can't even take your own advice, you'd rather jump in and try to bust balls instead. That's clear.

It's clear that you don't know what you're talking about. Remember the Vingt Regards thread? Talking about pianists and recordings you hadn't even heard of, and coming in here to lecture about Gould, a subject everyone already knows about. It's all a bit silly. But then it is the internet, and the internet is just a vehicle for laughs, and you excel in that respect, at least, so keep going.

By the way, it seems appropriate that you have given Gould a "mission". One does have to wonder however why it's always the pedants and fanatics who use such a word. Your scent precedes you, you know.

Herman I suppose you noticed that HMV JP has a Venezia set of her Bach.

[Herman]

Herman I suppose you noticed that HMV JP has a Venezia set of her Bach.

previously I had not, thanks. I clicked the buy button (new year's resolutions withstanding) and soon I'll find out how I like it when I'm not packing suitcases, heading for home.