Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1

Johann Sebastian Bach (Composer), Daniel Barenboim (Performer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Daniel Barenboim
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (August 24, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Warner Classics
• ASIN: B0002HTZKW
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #172,889 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

BARENBOIM DANIEL BACH: THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER, BOOK I

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A question of personal taste - and an open mind, March 29, 2005

By 

A music lover (Fremont, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (Audio CD)

Looking at the other reviews of this recording, I think it is safe to say that if your tastes lean toward a more "romantic" interpretation of Bach (dynamic modulations, pedal tastefully but generously applied) and/or you are open to hearing Bach interpreted a variety of ways, this recording is for you. If you have a very definite idea of how Bach should be played, especially if Gould is your thing, then stay away. Barenboim is in top form here, but the style of interpretation may not appeal to all. As for me - everything David said in his 5-star review goes for me, too. I wouldn't be without the Gould performances, either, but I think this is an equally valid, and beautiful, approach. I suspect even Bach would approve - but I guess we'll never know!

22 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent performance, September 24, 2004

By 

Daniel Graser "saxgod685" (Wappingers Falls, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (Audio CD)

I will say that I absolutely loved these performances of Bach's masterful keyboard writing. However, if you have grown up on the Bach of Gould and Schiff you may not find this to your liking. Their main focus was to clearly detail all of the polyphonic writing in the music to better outline the counterpoint; which is great. Gould's 1981 Goldberg variations will always be the best. Barenboim's playing is not as clear as some might like, he instead focuses on the charm and elegance of the pieces and stresses the harmonic tension but never sacrificing the direction of the melodic lines. That being said, the sound on this disc is wonderful, the playing is fantastic. I can understand apprehension about hearing Bach from Daniel Barenboim. His odd choice of rubatos in the Beethoven sonatas have left me disappointed and confused many times but he really does a straight up job with these pieces, worrying less about his ego and concept and more about making beautiful music. I love how after conducting most of the great masterpieces of wagner, beethoven, and a lot of contemporary music, toward the end of his career, Barenboim decides he's ready to interpret these bach pieces. I'm sure you will enjoy it.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling, Romantic Interpretation of WTC From Barenboim, January 22, 2007

By 

John Kwok (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 (Audio CD)

I heard Daniel Barenboim give an enthralling, Romantic interpretation of the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 a few nights ago at Carnegie Hall's magnificient Stern Auditorium. His interpretation will surely not please everyone, especially those familiar with Glenn Gould's austere, precise interpretation, but I think Barenboim has a thoughtful, important interpretation of this work in which he emphasizes the harmonic aspects of the scores. Having heard part of this CD too, I will say that it is one of Barenboim's best keyboard recordings in recent memory, demonstrating that he is still a fine pianist, as well as a notable orchestral conductor. I strongly recommend acquiring this CD for those interested in a fresh, yet vivid, interpretation of Bach's scores. However, if you are more inclined towards an austere, almost sublime, interpretation of the Well Tempered Clavier, I would recommend acquiring instead the classic recordings by Glenn Gould and the recent ones by Andras Schiff.