Customer Reviews

Well Tempered Clavier Book 1

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Of the many recordings of the WTC, this is one of the best, though it seems to be neglected. It has the right tempo for each of the pieces, in comparison to some recordings, which seem more often to have unexpectedly slow or fast renditions for certain pieces. Their is also a subtle and sensitive feeling given to each one. In some ways, this interpretations seems somewhere in between Schiff and Hewitt, though that is of course simplistic. It is more "old school" or classic in its approach than Gould, whose interpretation is of course excellent but a bit idiosyncratic. If you want a rendition that you can listen to again and again with joy, without quirky aspects -- just pure, classic interpretation -- then I recommend this performance.

The recording quality is excellent, even flawless, though it comes from a 1970s performance. I have listened much to this performance on LP vinyl records and can attest that this CD is probably better. There are some places where I can even hear him hum (quietly) in the background. The quality is clearer, in fact, than the Hewitt CDs, in my opinion, though of course those are good too.

The original performance included the second book, WTC II, which was also available in the original LP recordings. However, this CD has only book one. This is most unfortunate, because the second book was as good or better. It is tragic to lose the second half of this performance. I wish a studio would publish book two on CD! Meanwhile, get this one before it too disappears....

This WTC may not be as celestial as Edwin Fischer's, it may not be able to take you back 300 yrs to an empty chapel as Richter's; it may not be so dramatic and explosive as Gulda's; nor is it so charming as Nikolayeva's or so gentle as Schiff's when you first listen to it.

Here we have a profundity touching deep into the heart of music. It never ceases to bring to your mind the beauty of the Bach's offspring, particulary those by Mozart and Chopin. Here, to a certain extent, we also see Ignaz Friedman sort of imagination in the recreation of music (e.g. his Mazurkas) when we hear the songs and steps in his rendition and it's simply overflowing with chamber music: every phrase itself is almost a tune and every note has a life of it's own. But it never has to resort to Gulda's dynamic manouevre, and it's nothing like Richter's frenetic rendition, it's nonetheless deeply spiritual in it's own way.

In touch, it's never percussive and is rather similar to Moiseiswitch but with a softened "grand style" more geered to a full and cozy sense of chamber music. Actually, the more often you listen to it, you'll find it more sophisticated and more sublime than Nikolayeva's; and Schiff in comparison, simply lacks one whole dimension, though it's also soothing it it's own way.

If you don't mind the old recording sound of Edwin Fischer, he would be the golden choice. But with Horszowski we have an alternative, all the more so when it's a 70's recording in good stereo sound. But of course if you have a taste for Glenn Gould, any subsitute would point to Tureck and in which case, an alternative would rather be Gulda instead. The only drawback to this WTC is, you may not be able to unearth it's treasures in full until you go back to it a 3rd or even a 4th time.