Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

[Joe_Campbell]

Man, that is really below Hyperion's standards (and I'm a Hewitt fan, too).  A shame, since IMHO a good cover would encourage people to explore her take on the material.

--Bruce

I hope you just mean the cover! I just shelled out about $50 for it!

And Ackbar, I like that cover much more, too!

[bhodges]

The cover to the first set in its re-released form is actually quite appealing.

MUCH better!  So why...?  Ah well, doesn't matter at this point...

I hope you just mean the cover! I just shelled out about $50 for it!

Oh yes, not to worry, I'm a big Hewitt fan.  (Although I haven't heard her WTC.)  Years ago my brother played me some of her Bach Toccatas CD, and it converted me...

--Bruce

[admiralackbar74]

In order that my other inquiries don't get lost in the muddle...

Any thoughts on Schiff?

And I thought I heard that Perahia is going to record this. When might that be released?

[Bulldog]

Yes, I need to get to know that Tureck set in the coming months. I have it downloaded to my computer at work.

FWIW, I think that listening to Tureck's set at work will not do the trick.  Her interpretations require full concentration.

[Bulldog]

Why does her new set have such a horrendous cover? What on earth is she wearing!?



Any thoughts on Schiff?

And I thought I heard that Perahia is going to record this. When might that be released?

Hewitt isn't much on beauty, so I wouldn't expect a lot from a cover that includes her face.

As for Schiff, I think well of his WTC.

Concerning Perahia, I don't find his Bach anything special.  His Mozart's a different story.

[DavidRoss]

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of the recommendations above.  FWIW I just got Schiff's and think it's terrific.

[Bulldog]

FWIW I just got Schiff's and think it's terrific.

Glad to hear it.

[The new erato]

I don't think you'll go wrong with any of the recommendations above.  FWIW I just got Schiff's and think it's terrific.

I bought the big Eloquence package of all Schiff's Bach from amazon.de for a pittance (about 23 Euro for 12 discs) and find it one of my best buys ever.

[admiralackbar74]

I wish that Schiff box set were available in the US. It's a shame that it's not.

[DavidRoss]

I wish that Schiff box set were available in the US. It's a shame that it's not.

Here is the Amazon link for it: http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tempered-Klavier-J-S-Bach/dp/B0018NUM56/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247065513&sr=1-8

[Opus106]

Here is the Amazon link for it: http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tempered-Klavier-J-S-Bach/dp/B0018NUM56/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247065513&sr=1-8

No, no, admiralackbar is referring to the too-much-lamented-about 12-CD set of Schiff's complete recordings of Bach's solo keyboard works for Decca, which seems to be available only in Germany for a generally high shipping fee.

[DavidRoss]

No, no, admiralackbar is referring to the too-much-lamented-about 12-CD set of Schiff's complete recordings of Bach's solo keyboard works for Decca, which seems to be available only in Germany for a generally high shipping fee.

Ah...duh!  Well, minus VAT, plus shipping, makes about $50 or less than $5/disc.  I usually order German goods from jpc.de and take advantage of low prices on other items bundled into one order with the flat rate shipping charge.  Eloquence discs that aren't available Stateside are good purchases, so are Apex discs, and then there are always the Universal products that aren't sold in the US, like most of Suwanai's recordings!

[admiralackbar74]

Here is the Amazon link for it: http://www.amazon.com/Well-Tempered-Klavier-J-S-Bach/dp/B0018NUM56/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1247065513&sr=1-8

It is good to know, however, that Schiff's WTC has been repackaged at a lower price point. Thanks for pointing that out.

Has anyone done a fairly thorough review of Hewitt's two boxes and compared them? I'd like to see it if it's out there.

[Scarpia]

Ah...duh!  Well, minus VAT, plus shipping, makes about $50 or less than $5/disc.  I usually order German goods from jpc.de and take advantage of low prices on other items bundled into one order with the flat rate shipping charge.  Eloquence discs that aren't available Stateside are good purchases, so are Apex discs, and then there are always the Universal products that aren't sold in the US, like most of Suwanai's recordings!

I got a pair of those German Eloquence sets with the AMSI logo, which stands for Ambient Surround Imaging, and they sounded awful.  Apparently it is a method of encoding a 2-channel CD so that it can be rendered as surround sound when passed through a surround decoder.   To my ears, on a normal 2-channel stereo it sounded artificial, with distorted tonal balance and weird imaging.   I'm selling off the two sets I got that way (Guarneri Beethoven and Brendel Schubert).  I'd advise avoiding any recording with the AMSI logo.

Unfortunately they're out of print and scarce, but I treasure this non-bastardized version:

[DarkAngel]

Does anyone have both Tureck/DG (mono) and the later Tureck/BBC Legends?
Besides better sound is the BBC performance equal or better than the older DG set?

[Coopmv]

Does anyone have both Tureck/DG (mono) and the later Tureck/BBC Legends?
Besides better sound is the BBC performance equal or better than the older DG set?

I have the DG version.  It sounds quite good to me for its age ...

[Bulldog]

Does anyone have both Tureck/DG (mono) and the later Tureck/BBC Legends?
Besides better sound is the BBC performance equal or better than the older DG set?

I wouldn't say that the BBC is better.  There's a warmth to the DG performance that I love, while the BBC is more incisive.  Much of this likely has to do with the sound; the BBC sound is very clinical. 

Being a big fan of Tureck's Bach, I can't imagine not having both sets.  However, since the DG sound can be difficult to abide, I would recommend the BBC for the one set group.

[DarkAngel]

I wouldn't say that the BBC is better.  There's a warmth to the DG performance that I love, while the BBC is more incisive.  Much of this likely has to do with the sound; the BBC sound is very clinical. 

Being a big fan of Tureck's Bach, I can't imagine not having both sets.  However, since the DG sound can be difficult to abide, I would recommend the BBC for the one set group.

I was afraid that would be the answer..............
the cost of the BBC version is about 2X that of DG set on Amazon USA 

[Coopmv]

I was afraid that would be the answer..............
the cost of the BBC version is about 2X that of DG set on Amazon USA 

Check with George, who knows more about piano works than most on the forum.  I think he has this Tureck's DG set as well.

[George]

I was afraid that would be the answer..............
the cost of the BBC version is about 2X that of DG set on Amazon USA 

That would make the decision easy for me. The sound on the DG is perfectly fine IMO, unless your someone who focuses on sound ahead of performance.