Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

[prémont]

I didn't know Andrew Rangell recorded WTC. I posted either in the Bach on Piano or the Goldberg Variations thread that it was one of the most interesting Goldbergs I'd ever heard on piano, it's a wild interpretation and if I am remembering right he forgoes all repeats which also pleased me. His AoF was not interesting.

One doesn't need to hear much of his Bach to detect his style, which I find excentric (meaning strange) and contrieved. His articulation and particularly his accentuation is in these ears nothing but irritating and seems to contradict the music. i own a few of his late LvB sonatas, which I haven't listened to for years, but faintly I also here recall  something eccentric and contrieved. this is the reason why I haven't considered his AoF.

On rubato and WTC, I'm not sure if I'll ever get used to Ottavio Dantone

Dantone may be an acquired taste (Italian temper), while I probably never should acquire the taste for Rangell.

[staxomega]

One doesn't need to hear much of his Bach to detect his style, which I find excentric (meaning strange) and contrieved. His articulation and particularly his accentuation is in these ears nothing but irritating and seems to contradict the music. i own a few of his late LvB sonatas, which I haven't listened to for years, but faintly I also here recall  something eccentric and contrieved. this is the reason why I haven't considered his AoF.

Dantone may be an acquired taste (Italian temper), while I probably never should acquire the taste for Rangell.

I left out one very important piece of information, I'm not all that fond of Goldberg Variations anymore So to have it played with some more entertainment value was pleasing to me, also keeping it short sans repeats. It sounds like WTC is an easy skip. Goldbergs seem particularly monotonous on piano for some reason, people playing it completely straight on piano adds to the boredom it causes. I've felt this way for some time, seeing Busoni write it's not suited to audiences in 1910, makes me think it is even less suited to audiences (or me at least) in the 21st century.

On Goldbergs the three I heard most recently- Marcin Świątkiewicz, it sounds overly studied (for instance some strange pauses in places); or other times his ornamentation sounds natural but it can also sound like he is being quite conscious about it and it comes off as boxed in. Esfahani I suppose I was impressed that he doesn't sound relentless, but on repeat listen comes off as a bit superficial. I went back to Suzuki and I was again immediately reminded why I had this on my to buy list. Wonderful variations in tempo between pieces (plus a gorgeous opening Aria), flowing, nice light sounding instrument suited to Goldbergs, etc.

[milk]

One doesn't need to hear much of his Bach to detect his style, which I find excentric (meaning strange) and contrieved. His articulation and particularly his accentuation is in these ears nothing but irritating and seems to contradict the music. i own a few of his late LvB sonatas, which I haven't listened to for years, but faintly I also here recall  something eccentric and contrieved. this is the reason why I haven't considered his AoF.

One thing I CAN say about it is that seems like hard work. I guess that's not good. He is present for the music but he's always working it. May be I'll feel that way now if I go back to Lepauw.

[prémont]

Goldbergs seem particularly monotonous on piano for some reason, people playing it completely straight on piano adds to the boredom it causes.

Very true, but Rangell goes IMO much too far in the opposite direction.

On Goldbergs the three I heard most recently- Marcin Świątkiewicz, it sounds overly studied (for instance some strange pauses in places); or other times his ornamentation sounds natural but it can also sound like he is being quite conscious about it and it comes off as boxed in. Esfahani I suppose I was impressed that he doesn't sound relentless, but on repeat listen comes off as a bit superficial. I went back to Suzuki and I was again immediately reminded why I had this on my to buy list. Wonderful variations in tempo between pieces (plus a gorgeous opening Aria), flowing, nice light sounding instrument suited to Goldbergs, etc.

This is very close to my reactions to these three recordings.

[prémont]

One thing I CAN say about it is that seems like hard work. I guess that's not good. He is present for the music but he's always working it. May be I'll feel that way now if I go back to Lepauw.

As I see it, a comparison between Rangell and Lepauw will invariably fall out in Lepauw's favor.

[milk]

As I see it, a comparison between Rangell and Lepauw will invariably fall out in Lepauw's favor.

I hope so as I spoke up for him so much. I'm open to influence and Hill influenced me recently with regard to poise and subtlety. Hill seems very delicate and wise and mindful of Bach's deep well. Maybe Lepauw is a bit cheeky.
But I did like Lepauw a lot recently.
I'm going back to Pienaar and Janssen. I think Jannsen is often very good. Pienaar reminds me of some of the older generations sometimes. He can be breezy.

[staxomega]

Very true, but Rangell goes IMO much too far in the opposite direction.

Certainly. I view this akin to Rübsam's lute harpsichord recordings of Bach; more like an avant-garde performance piece than anything resembling sanity. Writing up Rosen in AoF now, this is far more tasteful.

[Mandryka]

Certainly. I view this akin to Rübsam's lute harpsichord recordings of Bach; more like an avant-garde performance piece than anything resembling sanity.

Entartete Musik

[Mandryka]

Actually I'm listening to Egarr's Goldbergs  now, that'll do me!

Someone I know who's more into these variations than I am tells me that Jean Rondeau's beats all comers, I haven't heard the recording but I heard him do it in recital, it seemed OK. I think I wrote something about it somewhere here and pissed someone off.

[milk]

Actually I'm listening to Egarr's Goldbergs  now, that'll do me!

Someone I know who's more into these variations than I am tells me that Jean Rondeau's beats all comers, I haven't heard the recording but I heard him do it in recital, it seemed OK. I think I wrote something about it somewhere here and pissed someone off.

I'd like to find that comment  . I really liked that recording when I listened to it last year.
Here's one I'm listening to for the first time and so far so good. His BK2 sets in F# minor and F# major go deep:


Feltsman isn't bad but I'm again reminded of something about the piano. All the range of possibilities it affords, not only with dynamics but maybe also with dynamics-adjacent effects (I don't know, I'm not a pianist), gives the artist a very easy chance to muck things up. Feltsman uses all the tricks at his disposal. He's not as gaudy as some and he seems to get Bach and get counterpoint yet something tells me that his instincts as a pianist prevent him somehow from letting the counterpoint speak for itself. It's as if he so wants to make a greater narrative of his own. Maybe I'm crazy.

[aukhawk]

I hope so as I spoke up for him so much. I'm open to influence and Hill influenced me recently with regard to poise and subtlety. Hill seems very delicate and wise and mindful of Bach's deep well. Maybe Lepauw is a bit cheeky.

It's a bit hard IMHO not to be influenced by:

   versus   

[milk]

It's a bit hard IMHO not to be influenced by:

   versus   

Yes. Hill is a mature, sensitive, seasoned artist. I think beautiful.

[milk]

Tatiana Nikolayeva does some super annoying things sometimes but she's also soaring and majestic at other times.

[Que]

I think I am going to buy more interpretations of "Das Wohltemperierte Clavier"  and am open for recommendations. Which sets do I really need, apart from the two I already have?

Which two do you already have? Moroney and Van Asperen? And perhaps Leonhardt somewhere in a complete edition?

If you don't know it, I would strongly recommend Glen Wilson (Teldec/Warner). 
He gets literally everything right, stylistically and technically, unbeaten in my book.

I also like Dantone and Rousset, but both are an acquired taste.  Dantone because of his unapologetic and dashing Italian approach. Rousset is idiosyncratic and brilliant, but uneven.

[Harry]

Which two do you already have? Moroney and Van Asperen? And perhaps Leonhardt somewhere in a complete edition?

If you don't know it, I would strongly recommend Glen Wilson (Teldec/Warner). 
He gets literally everything right, stylistically and technically, unbeaten in my book.

I also like Dantone and Rousset, but both are an acquired taste.  Dantone because of his unapologetic Italian approach. Rousset is idiosyncratic but brilliant, a bit uneven.

I could have Leonhardt in a complete edition, good reminder, will look for that one, and if not which version is recommendable?
Glen Wilson it is then, I trust your opinion in this, so its on the order list.
Dantone and Rousset I will listen on Qobuz, and decide if I like them enough or not.
Thank you Que, you brought me a step further in this ongoing journey.
And yes I have Moroney and Asperen.

Glen Wilson is not an easy to find set, so I will try to find this on Qobuz too!

[Que]

I could have Leonhardt in a complete edition, good reminder, will look for that one, and if not which version is recommendable?
Glen Wilson it is then, I trust your opinion in this, so its on the order list.
Dantone and Rousset I will listen on Qobuz, and decide if I like them enough or not.
Thank you Que, you brought me a step further in this ongoing journey.
And yes I have Moroney and Asperen.

There are many more discussed in the WTC thread, often pretty recent issues.

In the stream of new issues, I haven't come accross one that really appealed to me enough to be added to my collection.
Though I guess I should point out amongst new comers Steven Devine (Resonus). In SOTA sound. So if you go exploring on Qobuz anyway, you might as well give him a listen. 

[Harry]

There are many more discussed in the WTC thread, often pretty recent issues.

In the stream of new issues, I haven't come accross one that really appealed to me enough to be added to my collection.
Though I guess I should point out amongst new comers Steven Devine (Resonus). In SOTA sound. So if you go exploring on Qobuz anyway, you might as well give him a listen. 

On my list! Thanks.

[Mandryka]

I could have Leonhardt in a complete edition, good reminder, will look for that one, and if not which version is recommendable?
Glen Wilson it is then, I trust your opinion in this, so its on the order list.
Dantone and Rousset I will listen on Qobuz, and decide if I like them enough or not.
Thank you Que, you brought me a step further in this ongoing journey.
And yes I have Moroney and Asperen.

Glen Wilson is not an easy to find set, so I will try to find this on Qobuz too!

What do you think of this one?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZxgq37PNQ

[Harry]

What do you think of this one?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZxgq37PNQ

From what I hear, I think its a pretty fine proposal, well dive into this also. On my list!

The Ruckers Harpsichord sounds wonderful, and her pace is also spot on. Warm and very approachable.

[Mandryka]

From what I hear, I think its a pretty fine proposal, well dive into this also. On my list!

The Ruckers Harpsichord sounds wonderful, and her pace is also spot on. Warm and very approachable.

Or this one?

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=frANagdVX4Q