BaL 25.05.04 - JS Bach: Keyboard partitas, BVW 825–830

[LMcD]

From the BBC R3 website:

Joanna's choice:
Andras Schiff (piano)
Decca 4758234

Thank you!

[AuntDaisy]

Is the Růžičková actually available at the moment? I can’t find it anywhere.

Presto have them on MP3 or FLAC as part of the Bach complete keyboard works for ~£28 - £42, or Amazon have secondhand CDs for ~£190.

[richardfinegold]

I have the winner on an old iTunes, which Apple unhelpfuly moved to the Cloud and downsampled to mp3 sans permission and ruined the HD in the process. I will be in an airy this morning so perhaps I can stream it. It’s been a while. Did A.S. re record these?

[mikealdren]

Please make it longer & move back to the old time. I missed the first minute or so!

Yes, it started a couple of minutes early but on catch up that isn't a problem. A first rate BAL, Joanna McG is excellent and kept A McG at bay simply by having so many interesting things to say.

[gurnemanz]

Is the Růžičková actually available at the moment? I can’t find it anywhere.

I mentioned Růžičková earlier in this thread and linked to the Presto download.

[AuntDaisy]

I mentioned Růžičková earlier in this thread and linked to the Presto download.

Apologies gurnemanz, I'd missed your post.

[gurnemanz]

Apologies gurnemanz, I'd missed your post.

No prob, Aunt.

[silvestrione]

I beg to differ - I found this a very poor review and it was obvious from the word go that the main emphasis would be on an instrument about which Bach was at best ambiguous. why were only 2 harpsichordists (both deceased - RIP) considered? What about Pinnock, Esfahani, Leonhardt et al? Joanna MacGregor said that she loved the sound of the harpsichord but did not give it adequate coverage. Perhaps the producers or whoever decides these things should have chosen an early music specialist for this or any Bach BAL feature. No discussion of issues such as tuning or temperament, but if the music is played on a modern piano then these are fixed at a' = 440 with equal temperament. It could be argued that Bach had a preference for equal temperament following his composing Book1 of The well-tempered clavier, but many harpsichordists (Hogwood for example) choose alternatives for Bach performance.

Yes, as a pianist I thoroughly enjoyed this BAL, and JMcG's insider's insightful comments on the extracts...but it also seemed a guilty pleasure, as it is a harpsichord piece in origin, which brings up lots of issues, such as those above. Partly a problem created by not having someone with a critic's or scholar's background, to do it. It was very obviously a pianist's view. But I always look forward to hearing her, and greatly enjoyed her on Mahler 9 too.

[Pulcinella]

Just started streaming the winner.
If this was a La Tribune-type listen, he'd be out already; I don't like the very first movement, certainly in comparison to either of the Angela Hewitt recordings.

[Nick Armstrong]

Yes, as a pianist I thoroughly enjoyed this BAL, and JMcG's insider's insightful comments on the extracts...but it also seemed a guilty pleasure, as it is a harpsichord piece in origin, which brings up lots of issues, such as those above. Partly a problem created by not having someone with a critic's or scholar's background, to do it. It was very obviously a pianist's view. But I always look forward to hearing her, and greatly enjoyed her on Mahler 9 too.

Yes me too, particularly the earlier piano extracts (I remember my piano teacher idolising Tureck).

It’s the Feltsman I’ll be investigating further.