Your Three Favorite Bach Pianists

[The Raven]

Gould rules!!  I don't know what Perahia is doing tied for 2nd; some of you folks have odd preferences.

What's more interesting is gould listed as a classical music pianist in a list... It's like saying my favorite beethoven pianist is Lang Lang...when he was 7 years old... with a turned on humidifier next to the microphone...with a wrong sheet in front of him...  .
Maybe people, lost in eccentricity,  forget how distinguished and great pianists play because of getting used to funny playing of eccentric people

[trung224]

Gould
Yudina
Koroliov

[Sammy]

I find it odd that you don't like Perahia enough to fit him in your top 15.

But that's just me.

Here's something even more odd.  I wouldn't put him in my top 30 either.

[Leon]

Here's something even more odd.  I wouldn't put him in my top 30 either.

That's quite a negative reaction to a pianist generally praised for his Bach performances, both live and recorded.  Is there some quality that you find particularly distasteful?

[DavidRoss]

Hewitt
Schiff
Gould

[Sammy]

That's quite a negative reaction to a pianist generally praised for his Bach performances, both live and recorded.  Is there some quality that you find particularly distasteful?

No, I don't find anything distasteful about Perahia's Bach; it just does nothing for me.  Perahia's very refined and rather anonymous playing isn't my thing; he's sort of the "goody-two-shoes" of Bach interpretation.  If we were talking about Mozart, my opinion would be much different.

I forgot to address the fact that Perahia is usually praised for his Bach recordings.  Because of that praise, I've listened to each of his Bach solo recordings dozens of times, hoping that some light would go on in my head.  Well, it hasn't happened with his Bach or his Schumann.

[Scarpia]

No, I don't find anything distasteful about Perahia's Bach; it just does nothing for me.  Perahia's very refined and rather anonymous playing isn't my thing; he's sort of the "goody-two-shoes" of Bach interpretation.  If we were talking about Mozart, my opinion would be much different.

I forgot to address the fact that Perahia is usually praised for his Bach recordings.  Because of that praise, I've listened to each of his Bach solo recordings dozens of times, hoping that some light would go on in my head.  Well, it hasn't happened with his Bach or his Schumann.

I read somewhere that he got interested in Bach when recovering from a hand injury. 

[Leon]

I read somewhere that he got interested in Bach when recovering from a hand injury.

Yes, it was back in the 1990s when he could not perform he began to study the scores in earnest.  But he had played Bach of course, just not recording the music or programming it on his concerts.  Since then his recitals will always include Bach and usually Mozart, Beethoven and one or two of the 19th century masters.  He has now recorded plenty of Bach.

It is precisely his refined, nuanced and perfectly balanced (imo) playing that I find very moving with Bach.  He is the antidote to those pianists (and there are a lot of them playing Bach) I consider indulgent.

[Brahmsian]

Hewitt
Schiff
Gould

Hey David!  Exact same 3 as mine. 

[Sammy]

Yes, it was back in the 1990s when he could not perform he began to study the scores in earnest.  But he had played Bach of course, just not recording the music or programming it on his concerts.  Since then his recitals will always include Bach and usually Mozart, Beethoven and one or two of the 19th century masters.  He has now recorded plenty of Bach.

It is precisely his refined, nuanced and perfectly balanced (imo) playing that I find very moving with Bach.  He is the antidote to those pianists (and there are a lot of them playing Bach) I consider indulgent.

Would you mind listing a small number of them?

[Leon]

Would you mind listing a small number of them?

Seeing as I vastly prefer Bach played on harpsichord most pianists sound "self-indulgent" to me, but that may not be the right word.  Playing the music in what I feel is unidiomatic style would be more accurate, and I suppose I read that as a form of self-indulgence.  But Edwin Fischer and now that I've listened to Rubsam's piano Bach, those are two who come to mind. 

[Sammy]

Seeing as I vastly prefer Bach played on harpsichord most pianists sound "self-indulgent" to me, but that may not be the right word.  Playing the music in what I feel is unidiomatic style would be more accurate, and I suppose I read that as a form of self-indulgence.  But Edwin Fischer and now that I've listened to Rubsam's piano Bach, those are two who come to mind.

Yeah, Rubsam is a good example of what you don't like.  He pulls and tugs at the tempo, often alters accents and inflections and generally deviates quite a bit from the norm.  I look at it as risk-taking where the results can either be fantastic or an abomination.  Overall, I'm impressed with Rubsam. 

Given you don't care much for Rubsam, stay clear of Andrew Rangell's Bach which largely follows in Rubsam's path.

We do have some similar preferences.  Two of your top three pianists are on my list.  Also, I prefer Bach on the harpsichord; that's my home.

[Leon]

Yeah, Rubsam is a good example of what you don't like.  He pulls and tugs at the tempo, often alters accents and inflections and generally deviates quite a bit from the norm.  I look at it as risk-taking where the results can either be fantastic or an abomination.  Overall, I'm impressed with Rubsam. 

Given you don't care much for Rubsam, stay clear of Andrew Rangell's Bach which largely follows in Rubsam's path.

We do have some similar preferences.  Two of your top three pianists are on my list.  Also, I prefer Bach on the harpsichord; that's my home.

I almost included Rangell as an example but felt he had not recorded that much Bach.  I am only familiar with his Book I of the WTC. 

[Leon]

Of the two Schiff cycles, which do you (anyone) prefer?  I have had the Decca recordings and always felt they were good but not great.  From what I've heard of his ECM live recordings they surpass the earlier ones.

[DavidRoss]

Hey David!  Exact same 3 as mine. 

Our tastes may not be exotic, Ray, but at least we're in good company!

[DavidRoss]

Of the two Schiff cycles,

?
I like his ECM Goldbergs very much and the Decca WTC but haven't heard the new WTC or the ECM Partitas.

[Sammy]

Of the two Schiff cycles, which do you (anyone) prefer?  I have had the Decca recordings and always felt they were good but not great.  From what I've heard of his ECM live recordings they surpass the earlier ones.

Of all Schiff's Bach recordings for Decca, it's his WTC that I most appreciate (but not one of my favorites).  I haven't yet heard his new ECM WTC, but I'll definitely be getting it.

[The new erato]

Gould
Yudina
Koroliov

I was thinking about Yudina here, particularly as there is a Brilliant box about to be released:

http://www.mdt.co.uk/yudina-maria-brilliant-classics-3cds.html

[Sammy]

I almost included Rangell as an example but felt he had not recorded that much Bach.  I am only familiar with his Book I of the WTC.

Well, he's actually recorded quite a lot of Bach:  Partitas, French Suites, Italian Concerto, Chromatic Fantasia & Fugue, French Overture, etc.

[Conor71]

More votes for the ususal suspects :


Gould
Schiff
Richter