The Well-Tempered Clavier.

[Tony Halstead]

(Robert Levin's)

organ-playing (was) ghastly in my view, and I did not get on with the playing generally.

Come on now, silvestrione, get off the fence...
That's 'as maybe' ( I haven't heard it, sorry) but maybe the organ generally was anathema to that superb fortepianist? I do recall that he did a brilliant job a few years back playing the true solo part in Beethoven's Op 17 Sonata for piano and horn, ,which I recorded as a filler for the AAM CD of the Mozart and Beethoven Quintets for piano and wind instruments.

[Bryn]

(Robert Levin's)
Come on now, silvestrione, get off the fence...
That's 'as maybe' ( I haven't heard it, sorry) but maybe the organ generally was anathema to that superb fortepianist? I do recall that he did a brilliant job a few years back playing the true solo part in Beethoven's Op 17 Sonata for piano and horn, ,which I recorded as a filler for the AAM CD of the Mozart and Beethoven Quintets for piano and wind instruments.

I do have the Levin recording of the 48 (in the Hänssler complete JS Bach edition). I will give a few relevant P&Fs a spin. It's far too long since I last did so.

[By the way, the organ he used for BWV849, 852, 857,865, 867, 870, 874, 876, 878 and 891 is that originated in 1769 by Hinz, modified in 1792 by Van Dam and in 1975 by Metzler. It can be found in Wassenaar, Netherlands, see here. There is a generally fine review of teh Levin survey here, though the instrument count it wrong, Levin used both a single manual and a double manual harpsichord, making five instruments in all, not four.]

[silvestrione]

Sorry, my general view, and usual experience, is that Robert Levin is a fine musician (and he has that rare gift, doesn't he, of being able to improvise a stunning cadenza, in a concerto!).

[kea]

Hmm, but no dynamic indications in the first edition to suggest he wanted to exploit this essential aspect of the new instrument. However, was it not the Ricercar in three parts which is held by some to have been composed with the Silbermann instrument in mind?

You are probably right and I just confused the two ricercars >.>

[Quarky]

.....................totally fascinating........................

[MickyD]

(Robert Levin's)
Come on now, silvestrione, get off the fence...
That's 'as maybe' ( I haven't heard it, sorry) but maybe the organ generally was anathema to that superb fortepianist? I do recall that he did a brilliant job a few years back playing the true solo part in Beethoven's Op 17 Sonata for piano and horn, ,which I recorded as a filler for the AAM CD of the Mozart and Beethoven Quintets for piano and wind instruments.

I'd forgotten that filler was on the CD, Tony...must dig it out and give it another listen.

[HighlandDougie]

I hardly dare enter into this scarily knowledgeable fray but I've just discovered that, as well as the usual suspects (Hewitt x 2; Richter on Eurodisc; Schiff on ECM), I seem to have Maurizio Pollini playing Book 1 (in a cheapo DG box devoted to JSB). Anyone have any views? Is it worth listening to?

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I don't know the Pollini recording - but he's a pianist I'd gladly listen to as he was practising his scales; to hear him in Bach ...

[BBMmk2]

I don't know the Pollini recording - but he's a pianist I'd gladly listen to as he was practising his scales; to hear him in Bach ...

I didn't either? This would be interesting!

[Bryn]

You are probably right and I just confused the two ricercars >.>

Taking this diversion a little further off topic, did you catch Matthias Arter's Aquarell on Bach's Ricercar a 6 during tonight's Radio 3 in Concert? I have yet to listen to it, but intend to do so soon. The whole 'concert' looks quite tasty.

[silvestrione]

I hardly dare enter into this scarily knowledgeable fray but I've just discovered that, as well as the usual suspects (Hewitt x 2; Richter on Eurodisc; Schiff on ECM), I seem to have Maurizio Pollini playing Book 1 (in a cheapo DG box devoted to JSB). Anyone have any views? Is it worth listening to?

I have it and like it very much: the usual 'late' ('later'?) Pollini strengths and weaknesses, integrity, commitment, involvement, but a little unyielding and severe. Like the new Debussy disc!

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

the usual 'late' ('later'?) Pollini strengths and weaknesses, integrity, commitment, involvement, but a little unyielding and severe.

And what are the "weaknesses", silvestr1?

[silvestrione]

And what are the "weaknesses", silvestr1?

Quite, chose the wrong word there...

[HighlandDougie]

I have it and like it very much: the usual 'late' ('later'?) Pollini strengths and weaknesses, integrity, commitment, involvement, but a little unyielding and severe. Like the new Debussy disc!

Thanks, Silvestrione - your comments have prompted me to listen. It is all rather "sérieux" - and the sniffing/occasional singing along was a little disconcerting until I got used to it (always mainly from the right channel and a by-product of the rather close recording, I suspect, but then noises-off feature with Richter as well). Whatever, I've much enjoyed making its acquaintance.