Bach on the piano

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Many years ago I owned this (together with Book I) on a Philips LP set. A warm, human and technically flawless interpretation without special insights but also without any hint of idiosyncrasy. A good way for pianophiles to get to know the music.

Yes, good performance but a little bland.

[Mandryka]

This arrived on Saturday and it's been an interesting experience getting to know it. I think it's an "important" release - because the playing style anticipates Rübsam's lute harpsichord Bach. The voices are constantly kept independent, like Rübsam he tries to make something coherent out of it. Intimate, restrained, expressive. Recommended and not just to completists.

[Mandryka]

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=at4S7Ar9g0I

Matteo Messori selections from Partita 2, a symphonia and the first contrapuntus. Erard (and a very ornate one too!)

(NB his website says that he's working on a clavichord recording of the Bach inventions.)

[Atriod]

What is the most beautifully played Goldberg Variations Aria on the piano? I can not get Babayan playing this in concert as an encore out of mind.

[AnotherSpin]

What is the most beautifully played Goldberg Variations Aria on the piano? I can not get Babayan playing this in concert as an encore out of mind.

Most beautifully played based on what criteria?

[Mandryka]

What is the most beautifully played Goldberg Variations Aria on the piano? I can not get Babayan playing this in concert as an encore out of mind.

Tureck 1956

[Atriod]

Most beautifully played based on what criteria?

Whatever you like.

[AnotherSpin]

Whatever you like.

I have a long habit of listening to the Goldberg Variations in the morning. Including performances on the piano. I don't keep a count, but I think I've listened to almost every available recording. In each case I am deeply affected by the beauty of the aria. Each performance is beautiful, I can't remember a time when any of the performances seemed "wrong" to me. I don't see any point in comparing the performances to determine which is better and which is worse. Each of the performances is the most beautiful and at the same time each of the performances is only an approach on the way to the ideal Goldbergs, which exists in an ideal world.

[Atriod]

This arrived on Saturday and it's been an interesting experience getting to know it. I think it's an "important" release - because the playing style anticipates Rübsam's lute harpsichord Bach. The voices are constantly kept independent, like Rübsam he tries to make something coherent out of it. Intimate, restrained, expressive. Recommended and not just to completists.

I have been listening to the Rhine Liszt and Busoni box that has several of Busoni's JS Bach transcriptions. A very interesting pianist.

[Mandryka]

I have been listening to the Rhine Liszt and Busoni box that has several of Busoni's JS Bach transcriptions. A very interesting pianist.

I don't own the CDs but I can hear from the Indianisches Tagebuch on youtube.

There's never (that I've heard) any warmth or consolation when Scarpini plays.  He's a real mid century modern! 

[atardecer]

Speaking of Bach-Busoni I came across this the other day:

Spivakovsky plays Bach-Busoni BWV 1052:

I found the above on Mark Ainley's page "The Piano Files" he describes it thusly: "The Concerto in Busoni's arrangement receives a robust reading, with scintillating cadenzas very much in the spirit of Bach's time. However, Spivakovsky certainly does not replicate the kind of performance one might expect to hear on a harpsichord, instead taking full advantage of the expressive means of the piano with his fluid phrasing, sumptuous tonal colours, and skillful use of dynamic gradations." 

There are aspects of the concerto I like in the above performance but the middle movement is too slow for my tastes.

I like this:

Bach/Busoni - Nun komm der heiden Heiland
Evgeny Kissin piano

[amw]

What is the most beautifully played Goldberg Variations Aria on the piano? I can not get Babayan playing this in concert as an encore out of mind.

I haven't heard this specific Babayan performance obviously (wasn't at the concert) but based on broader stylistic similarities between the pianists, you may like Pavel Kolesnikov.

[Atriod]

I don't own the CDs but I can hear from the Indianisches Tagebuch on youtube.

There's never (that I've heard) any warmth or consolation when Scarpini plays.  He's a real mid century modern! 

I am finding he is like Egon Petri except not as dry as Petri.

[Atriod]

Speaking of Bach-Busoni I came across this the other day:

Spivakovsky plays Bach-Busoni BWV 1052:

I found the above on Mark Ainley's page "The Piano Files" he describes it thusly: "The Concerto in Busoni's arrangement receives a robust reading, with scintillating cadenzas very much in the spirit of Bach's time. However, Spivakovsky certainly does not replicate the kind of performance one might expect to hear on a harpsichord, instead taking full advantage of the expressive means of the piano with his fluid phrasing, sumptuous tonal colours, and skillful use of dynamic gradations." 

There are aspects of the concerto I like in the above performance but the middle movement is too slow for my tastes.

I like this:

Bach/Busoni - Nun komm der heiden Heiland
Evgeny Kissin piano

Mark is an incredible resource, he told me about a performance of Kreisleriana that is now among the best (if not the best) I've ever heard. Will post about in the Schumann thread after I've heard it a few more times.

[AnotherSpin]

I haven't heard this specific Babayan performance obviously (wasn't at the concert) but based on broader stylistic similarities between the pianists, you may like Pavel Kolesnikov.

Kolesnikov's Goldberg Variations is one of the disappointing readings of this work that I have heard in recent years.

Technically it is fine, almost as a not very sophisticated computer program would play it. The sound is not natural, as if processed through some kind of filters to give it sort of muffed quality. I won't go back to it, especially given the vast number of excellent Goldberg recordings out there.

[Mandryka]

What is the most beautifully played Goldberg Variations Aria on the piano? I can not get Babayan playing this in concert as an encore out of mind.

Well here's Babayan -- does this feel similar to what you heard?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ragFb9WW9bs&ab_channel=andjamdream

The whole thing accessible for free here by the looks of it

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/verbier-festival-2023-30th-anniversary-gala

[Mandryka]

I have been listening to the Rhine Liszt and Busoni box that has several of Busoni's JS Bach transcriptions. A very interesting pianist.

Worth catching the Scarlatti I'd say. Fresh approach to counterpoint and rhythm, and the touch is distinctive too.

[Atriod]

Well here's Babayan -- does this feel similar to what you heard?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ragFb9WW9bs&ab_channel=andjamdream

The whole thing accessible for free here by the looks of it

https://www.medici.tv/en/concerts/verbier-festival-2023-30th-anniversary-gala

That is how I remember it, huge thanks!

[milk]

So many glowing reviews of this. Humbug! To me, it suffers from the typical bad habits of many other piano recordings.

[San Antone]

So many glowing reviews of this. Humbug! To me, it suffers from the typical bad habits of many other piano recordings.

Who is the pianist? I can't read the fine print ...