Customer Reviews

Bach: Partitas Nos. 2, 4, 5

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Goode plays simply, elegantly, and clearly. No unwanted striving for effects. If Bach is to be played on a modern piano, this is without a doubt preferable to the staccato harpsichord-like immitative style of, say, Tureck and can be favourably compared to Schiff. The lack of pretention is refreshing and Goode never forgets that these are dance suites. The absence of any audible groaning and crooning is a very welcome bonus.

Goode does a great job of rescuing Bach from the Early Music folks and making him come alive on the piano. His playing is lively, with a beautiful sound and a flexible sense of rhythm. If you're tired of uninflected, rhythmically static Bach, you will definitely enjoy this album.

Richard Goode's recording of the 2nd, 4th, and 5th partitas of Bach can be analyzed, compared, contrasted, etc. but what really matters is the way this pianist communicates the spirit of Bach. This is playing neither of false piety nor self glorification.
Goode's thorough concept of these pieces is put at the service of the composer and communicates the genuine human nature, faith, and life affirmation which are the hallmarks of Bach's music.
More importantly than this or that tempo or such a phrasing, Goode gets through to the meaning of the music. That's why I listen to this recording.

Beautiful playing, more similar to Andras Schiff than anyone. His clarity brings out the distinct counterpoint. His playing is not overly-romantic, yet pianistic. As it should be; there's no point in playing Bach on the piano by pretending it's a harpsichord.

Hopefully, he will release the other 3 Partitas. This recording is an excellent choice. But, then again, anything other than Glenn Gould would be.

Goode plays beautifully, although with a characteristic pianistic approach that shows that Richard is probably more at home with Beethoven than Bach. The unsurpassed recording is still Glenn Gould's Partitas, but Goode brings in a clarity that is becoming. Goode is a good chioce for those that want a straight-forward interpretation, but for those that want more Bach magic and can live with some eccentricity - get Glenn Gould.

Like other reviewers, I know Goode mainly as a Beethoven interpreter. So I was surprised to find not just a Goode Bach recording, but an excellent one :-) This is pianistic, sensitive, crystal clear Bach without the fussiness of Schiff (who I love, but he can be a bit affected) or the arguable mechanicalism of Gould. It won't replace either of those recordings among my favorites, but it is a wonderful addition to any Bach collection.

This is generally a very good recording, but I disagree a little with some of the phrasing and tempi. For the D major Partita, the Ouverture is a bit too fast, the dotted rythm becomes jerky if you play it at that speed. The allegro section is then perhaps a little too slow, and also Mr. Goode varies the tempo quite a bit. This is distracting, there seems to be no musical need to do that except in very few places. The Allemande (which to me stands out in all of Bach keyboard music) is pretty, but could be more expressive.

Overall it is one of the most sincere and cleanest Bach recordings I know, as there are a lot of very mechanical interpretations around that are exceedingly dull, and do not do justice to the old master. Mr. Goode's record is a good investment as his playing style is timeless.

Last but not least: What disastrous marketing person put that very unflattering photo on the cover? I am sorry, but I almost decided not to buy this record because of this.