Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

[Mandryka]

I like Walcha's Ammer harpsichord a lot -- colouful and regal.

He is an outrageous performer. How can anyone have the chutzpah to play the F major prelude from Book 2 like that?

But he is very addictive, and, as been said, revealing. And I think the instrument is just beautiful.

Thanks to Premont he has become a firm favourite.

BTW, for those of you who use torrents, his complete Bach, including the suites and partitas, is easily available.

[Que]

I have written quite much about Walcha, among other this about his harpsichord recordings (from the thread:Bach on the harpsichord):

I forgot to mention then: a very striking and accurate description of Walcha's style. Sufficient to say that it's not my cup of tea.

Q

[rubio]

I forgot to mention then: a very striking and accurate description of Walcha's style. Sufficient to say that it's not my cup of tea.

Q

Who are your favourites in the WTC using harpsichord, Que?

[Que]

Who are your favourites in the WTC using harpsichord, Que?

Glen Wilson (Warner/ Teldec) and Ottavio Dantone (Arts).

See previous posts HERE and HERE.    And should Rousset ever do a WTC (and he will do so quite soon, I think), I would unhesitatingly get that as well.

Q

[rubio]

Glen Wilson (Warner/ Teldec) and Ottavio Dantone (Arts).

See previous posts HERE and HERE.    And should Rousset ever do a WTC (and he will do so quite soon, I think), I would unhesitatingly get that as well.

Q

Thanks, I will try one of them .

[SonicMan46]

WTC Bks. I & II w/ Roger Woodward - arrived earlier in the week from 'across the pond (MDT, just over $40 for 5 CDs) - Bk. I is packaged as 2 discs in a single-sized jewel box, while Bk. II consists of 3 discs also packaged in a single-size jewel box; both fit nicely into a well-constructed cardboard box - a nice 'save saver' - 

Woodward recorded these works in two periods (January & August, 2008) in Bavaria on a Hamburg Steinway D piano.  The booklets are extensive (German & English translations) with notes written by the pianist, and entitled In Search of a Performance Practice; an extensive review of the keyboard practices of the times, and Bach's own approaches toward composing, performance, and teaching on a wide variety of keyboards available to him at the time; sometimes too technical for me, but I'm sure instructive for those who are period keyboard performers.

I really enjoy the sound of this piano, of course in part related to Woodward's interpretations of these varied works and the recording engineering.  The timbre of the piano is pleasant and the sound near ambient quality.  Plus, Woodward plays with a finesse and lyricism that just does not 'tire on the ears' as has been true for me in other recordings that I've heard.

For other thoughts, the recording was selected for the Editor's Choice for The Gramophone February, 2010 issue; in addition, there are plenty of outstanding reviews on Woodward's Website HERE - SO, is this now one of the top WTC choices on piano - well, it is GOOD!  I still own (and plan to keep) Jill Crossland.  I'll be quite curious to hear the opinions of others on Woodward's WTC (and other recordings - this is my first experience w/ this pianist).

 

[Verena]

Also VERY promising, IMO: Zhu Xiao-Mei's upcoming WTC I, her WTC II has already been released:
http://www.mirare.fr/DisquesMirare/Zhu-Clavier-Livre1.html
Zhu Xiao-Mei is not very well-known, but there are quite a few people who consider her Bach Partitas to be among the very best, and possible THE best complete recording of these works on the piano - myself included.

[DavidRoss]

Haven't encountered you before, Verena.  Welcome aboard!

[Verena]

Haven't encountered you before, Verena.  Welcome aboard!

Thanks a lot, David!

[Bulldog]

WTC Bks. I & II w/ Roger Woodward - arrived earlier in the week from 'across the pond (MDT, just over $40 for 5 CDs) - Bk. I is packaged as 2 discs in a single-sized jewel box, while Bk. II consists of 3 discs also packaged in a single-size jewel box; both fit nicely into a well-constructed cardboard box - a nice 'save saver' - 

Woodward recorded these works in two periods (January & August, 2008) in Bavaria on a Hamburg Steinway D piano.  The booklets are extensive (German & English translations) with notes written by the pianist, and entitled In Search of a Performance Practice; an extensive review of the keyboard practices of the times, and Bach's own approaches toward composing, performance, and teaching on a wide variety of keyboards available to him at the time; sometimes too technical for me, but I'm sure instructive for those who are period keyboard performers.

I really enjoy the sound of this piano, of course in part related to Woodward's interpretations of these varied works and the recording engineering.  The timbre of the piano is pleasant and the sound near ambient quality.  Plus, Woodward plays with a finesse and lyricism that just does not 'tire on the ears' as has been true for me in other recordings that I've heard.

For other thoughts, the recording was selected for the Editor's Choice for The Gramophone February, 2010 issue; in addition, there are plenty of outstanding reviews on Woodward's Website HERE - SO, is this now one of the top WTC choices on piano - well, it is GOOD!  I still own (and plan to keep) Jill Crossland.  I'll be quite curious to hear the opinions of others on Woodward's WTC (and other recordings - this is my first experience w/ this pianist).

 

I continue to love Woodward's set; I take to these slowish and thought-provoking performances like a duck to water.  Sets from Martins and Vieru are also in this category.

[Bulldog]

I ordered the Belder set on Brilliant Classics - the price is right and I'm interested in hearing what all the fanfare is about. 

The only other Brilliant release I remember acquiring is the Barshai/Shostakovich Sym. cycle.  Nothing against the label, but their releases often have discs I already own from the original companies.

[SonicMan46]

I continue to love Woodward's set; I take to these slowish and thought-provoking performances like a duck to water.  Sets from Martins and Vieru are also in this category.

Don - thanks for the comments above - Woodward is indeed a joy for continuous listening! 

BTW - I compared Bk. I of Jill Crossland & Woodward this afternoon and enjoyed both - Crossland more mellow but both a melodic & lyric approach to this music; enjoy both - Dave 

[kishnevi]

I ordered the Belder set on Brilliant Classics - the price is right and I'm interested in hearing what all the fanfare is about. 

The only other Brilliant release I remember acquiring is the Barshai/Shostakovich Sym. cycle.  Nothing against the label, but their releases often have discs I already own from the original companies.

They do release original recordings.  The artists generally seem to be Europeans whom I've never heard of and/or are young performers who have recently won one or another European competition--and at Brilliant's price level, they're certainly worth it.    The only bad recording of theirs I've come across is a live performance of a Vivaldi opera (Il Teuzzone) that would have been better left unperformed, not to mention unrecorded, by this particular lot of performers--weak voices, stilted singing, all amplified by apparently being recorded from somewhere backstage.

[Que]

I ordered the Belder set on Brilliant Classics - the price is right and I'm interested in hearing what all the fanfare is about. 

The only other Brilliant release I remember acquiring is the Barshai/Shostakovich Sym. cycle.  Nothing against the label, but their releases often have discs I already own from the original companies.

You've read some positive comments about it?

On Brilliant, they do original releases as well. Belder's recently started Soler series might interest you.

Q

[DavidW]

You've read some positive comments about it?

I'm just as surprised!  His unmusical playing with no sensitivity, nuance or style got positive comments from someone!?

[Bulldog]

You've read some positive comments about it?

Fanfare Magazine/Dubins was very positive, and ARG/Haskins praised Belder's performances.  Leaving them aside, I just listened to all the clips provided on JPC - sounds excellent to me.  So I have high expectations for the set when it arrives. 

[Bulldog]

I'm just as surprised!  His unmusical playing with no sensitivity, nuance or style got positive comments from someone!?

Yes, and you can add my name to those someones.  I sure don't find anything unmusical about Belder.

[Antoine Marchand]

IMO, Pieter-Jan Belder plays an excellent Bach. I have the best impression of his performances in these discs:

[Que]

I'm just as surprised!  His unmusical playing with no sensitivity, nuance or style got positive comments from someone!?

Yes, and you can add my name to those someones.  I sure don't find anything unmusical about Belder.

Fanfare Magazine/Dubins was very positive, and ARG/Haskins praised Belder's performances.  Leaving them aside, I just listened to all the clips provided on JPC - sounds excellent to me.  So I have high expectations for the set when it arrives. 

I was just informing after reviews, and am not surprised about the answer since my own impressions of listening to the samples on jpc were also quite positive.

Q

[Bulldog]

I was just informing after reviews, and am not surprised about the answer since my own impressions of listening to the samples on jpc were also quite positive.

Q

Just two comments.  Although I was impressed with the Belder samples, I'm also aware that clips are not worthy alternatives to listening to an entire work on the audio equipment one loves.  Second, a disc can sound quite good in isoloation but less engrossing when immediately compared to a different version.

I remember when I first acquired the Beausejour set of Bk. 1; the set was very enjoyable.  Then I listened to the Vieru on Alpha, and the Beausejour paled in comparison.