Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Murray Perahia (Conductor, Performer), Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields (Orchestra) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Murray Perahia
• Orchestra: Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields
• Conductor: Murray Perahia
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (March 13, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005A8IB
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #44,958 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052: Allegro

2. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052: Adagio

3. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 1 in D minor, BWV 1052: Allegro

4. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053: Allegro

5. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053: Siciliano

6. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 2 in E major, BWV 1053: Allegro

7. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055: Allegro

8. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055: Larghetto

9. Concerto for harpsichord, strings & continuo No. 4 in A major, BWV 1055: Allegro ma non tanto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Had to have it after hearing it live!, March 23, 2001

By 

Jackson Boyett (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4 (Audio CD)

Murray Perahia and the Academy of St. Martin-in-the-Fields performed Bach's Keyboard Concerto no. 1 here in Austin, and I was absolutely spellbound! I own and love the classic recordings of it by Wanda Landowska and Glenn Gould and considered them more than sufficient for a music library. But when I heard Perahia and the Academy give their riveting rendition of this piece, I had to have this CD. Sure, it's a romantic approach, and the purists will howl, but it is gripping, exciting, communicative MUSIC in the hands of these performers. Perahia as a pianist is without equal, but he will begin to gain new stature as a conductor with this CD. Like the great Sir Thomas Beecham, he understands what is going on in the music he conducts, and conveys it with elegance, passion, and power.

29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More elegant Bach from Perahia, March 26, 2001

By 

Thomas J Wood - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4 (Audio CD)

I was bowled over by Murray Perahia's recent recording of the Goldberg Variations. His consistently elegant playing and phenomenal attention to detail vividly traced the myriad textures in Bach's amazingly varied variations.

Thus, I had high hopes for Perahia's go at Bach's keyboard concerti, which were only partially fulfilled. Perahia's playing is still strikingly elegant and tasteful, and the delicate and nuanced accompaniment by the Academy of St.-Martins-in-the-Fields perfectly suits his approach. But these concerti are more extrovert and "public" works than Bach's solo pieces and require more bite and projecton. At times, the playing here crosses the line into prettiness -- and Bach should never be merely "pretty."

Still, these are sensitive and artistically refined performances, and deserve to be heard. A couple of further complaints: as a nod toward "authenticity" a theorbo is added to the continuo line. Except for an occasional twang, the instrument is inaudible and should simply have been dispensed with. Also, we're given only three concerti on the 53-minute disk; there would have been plenty of room for a fourth.

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sparkling Wit, July 3, 2002

By 

Craig Matteson (Saline, MI) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: Keyboard Concertos Nos. 1, 2 & 4 (Audio CD)

Of course Perhaia is a great pianist and the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields is a great ensemble. But here I believe we get more than just the sum of the two. I was fortunate to hear a concert of Perhaia and St. Martin in the Fields here in Ann Arbor and they performed the first of these concertos. I have to tell you that the piece is so full of wit and fun that I chuckled out loud (softly).

You know that you have great musicians performing when they have so much command and understanding of what they are playing that they are willing to tell the musical jokes (witty jokes) with subtlety and grace. This is wonderful stuff.

The playing is tight, with the players listening to each other in ways that are too often ignored in larger ensemble pieces. Imitations and joint phrases are actually pulled off like they are in a string quartet. Yes, the Academy is a smaller orchestra that usually performs without a conductor so they are used to ensemble playing. This is just proof that they have accomplished what they set out to do. An chamber orchestra that plays as if it were a single musical instrument with almost endless musical colors and capabilities.

The other two concertos are just as great and fun as the first. There is also a companion disk with 3,5,6, and 7. So, there is even more to enjoy!