BaL 28.9.24 - JS Bach: English suites (BVW 806–811) [piano]

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  • LMcD
    Full Member
    • Sep 2017
    • 8396

    #31
    Originally posted by Pulcinella View Post

    Oops!

    Mind you, Glenn was quite the actor too, I suspect.
    ... and perhaps actor Glen could tickle the ivories a little.

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    • Ein Heldenleben
      Full Member
      • Apr 2014
      • 6726

      #32
      Somewhat to my surprise I’m liking the Angela Hewitt A minor Prelude English Suite most of all the excerpts played so far . The first that avoids the sewing machine effect - lovely ebb and flow to the playing.

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      • Mandryka
        Full Member
        • Feb 2021
        • 1531

        #33
        Originally posted by Ein Heldenleben View Post
        Somewhat to my surprise I’m liking the Angela Hewitt A minor Prelude English Suite most of all the excerpts played so far . The first that avoids the sewing machine effect - lovely ebb and flow to the playing.
        There's a recording by Hewitt which has a good English Suite 6 - the first recording she ever made I think, this



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        • Darloboy
          Full Member
          • Jun 2019
          • 321

          #34
          Originally posted by MickyD View Post
          Can we expect a second programme with harpsichord versions? I bet we can't. Anyone else up for contributing to such a thread?
          At one time BaL would have been much more likely to focus on harpsichord rather than piano versions...

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          • Darloboy
            Full Member
            • Jun 2019
            • 321

            #35
            These suites have only been covered by BaL once before, in Jan 04, when Simon Heighes chose Angela Hewitt (2002-3) and Leonhardt (1973) as his piano and harpsichord first choices respectively. Levin was mid-price choice on piano.

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            • Retune
              Full Member
              • Feb 2022
              • 312

              #36
              Schiff finishes just ahead in a tight race with Perahia.

              Not entirely coincidentally, a copy of the Schiff turned up in my letter box this morning. I like his Bach and was prompted to check out this recording by the upcoming BaL (I already had Perahia in a megabox).

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              • silvestrione
                Full Member
                • Jan 2011
                • 1697

                #37
                Was Lucy Parham just slightly bland? I felt A McG trying to push her to be more incisive and insightful at times, e.g. the characterisation of Gould's playing was vague, more about his singing along than his eschewal of legato or clarity of counterpoint or absence of pedal.

                The long view, the balancing of character and tempi across a suite, didn't come up.

                I don't think I'd want a piano recording of these pieces, but of the final two I thought Perahia won hands down (literally!), with a much more characterful touch and colour.

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                • Retune
                  Full Member
                  • Feb 2022
                  • 312

                  #38
                  I look forward to comparing Schiff and Perahia properly. Schiff was great in that last Gigue from #6 though, which sounded strikingly 'modern'. He might almost have been playing something like Ligeti's Devil's Staircase étude.

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                  • Mandryka
                    Full Member
                    • Feb 2021
                    • 1531

                    #39
                    Originally posted by Retune View Post
                    I look forward to comparing Schiff and Perahia properly. Schiff was great in that last Gigue from #6 though, which sounded strikingly 'modern'. He might almost have been playing something like Ligeti's Devil's Staircase étude.
                    I think I'd take Perahia over Schiff in that gigue - in truth, I don't feel as though you can do justice to the music on a piano really - if you have time try my favourite, Marie Nishyama.

                    Comment

                    • Pulcinella
                      Host
                      • Feb 2014
                      • 10872

                      #40
                      From the updated website (also added to original post):

                      Lucy's choice:
                      András Schiff (piano)
                      Decca 4216402

                      Comment

                      • Retune
                        Full Member
                        • Feb 2022
                        • 312

                        #41
                        I wonder if Schiff has any plans to revisit the Suites, as he has already done with the Goldbergs, Partitas and the WTC in recent years? I suppose his next Bach release will be the Art of Fugue (which reminds me - I hope he's recovering well from the broken leg that stopped him playing it at the Proms).

                        Comment

                        • Nick Armstrong
                          Host
                          • Nov 2010
                          • 26512

                          #42
                          Originally posted by silvestrione View Post
                          …of the final two I thought Perahia won hands down (literally!), with a much more characterful touch and colour.
                          The French radio critics agreed with you, as referenced in my #28 above. I think the piano and recording quality are preferable in the Perahia too.

                          Being familiar with the two ‘finalists’, the discovery for me in this BAL was the Feltsman which I intend to explore further.
                          "...the isle is full of noises,
                          Sounds and sweet airs, that give delight and hurt not.
                          Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments
                          Will hum about mine ears, and sometime voices..."

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                          • Barbirollians
                            Full Member
                            • Nov 2010
                            • 11661

                            #43
                            Too much character probably for Lucy Parham - whose dismissal of Richter's Rachmaninov PC 2 recording many years ago I think on her very first BAL - made me very sceptical of her judgment .

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