Customer Reviews

Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II

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

 

 

Jeno Jando has recorded an enormous swath of the classical piano repertoire for the budget label Naxos. His recordings are never less than respectable, and often a good deal more than that. Jando's recordings of Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier rank among his very best--brilliant, sensitive, giving all the inner voices of the music full play. If you're a devotee of a particular pianist in this repertoire--Gould, Schiff, Richter, Kempff, etc.--by all means buy their versions. But if all you want is the music itself, you can't beat these CDs--particularly not at these prices!

Jando's WTC is a solid purchase. It finds a middle road between Schiff's incredibly delicate, gentle approach and Gould's aggressive, brilliant style combining elements of both in an overall bold performance. The sound is just a bit resonant for my taste but overall, for Jando's playing and the price, this disc is highly recommended.

I am a fan of Jeno Jando in Mozart & Mussorgsky...his style is simple, direct, unaffected and thoughtful. Then I see him doing Bach at less than half the price of Schiff & Gould & other "names", and with a 3-star rating in the Penquin Guide. Can't beat that with a stick. How could I lose?

Answer: I couldn't. Jando's playing is absolutely superb...the best thing I've heard him do. And the music? Well, Bach's solo keyboard music is his finest work and TWTC Book 2 could be the finest of his finest work. I know people swear by Gould & Schiff, and they are good, but with Jando at half the price, are they twice as good?

Answer: Nope. Especially with fine recording by Naxos. Buy this instead of Gould and you'll have enough cash left over to buy Jando's TWTC Book 1. Can't beat that with two sticks.

All out of Gould, so I bought this one. Guess what? It's great. One of the best from the Naxos label.