Superb Bach from Lang Lang

[Ein Heldenleben]

... I can well believe it. But I don't think such vilification is fuelled by 'envy'.

I have an intense dislike for the piano playing of Angela Hewitt, but my dislike doesn't come from any sense of envy!

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I’m interested- do you think it’s a tiny bit boring ?

[Barbirollians]

I dreamed once that they had found a live recording of Lipatti playing the Goldberg Variations - I was very disappointed when I woke up.

I have just bought the Rana in Presto’s sale so shall give that a spin later. Perahia and Rousset tend to be the versions I listen to and Celine Frisch in that splendid Alpha Cafe Zimmerman box.

[vinteuil]

I’m interested- do you think it’s a tiny bit boring ?

... my dislike of the piano playing of Angela Hewitt? I don't think my reaction is that it is 'boring' exactly - more that there is such a premium on the 'neatness' that it ends up sounding (to my ears) almost mechanical : I think there is a 'prissiness' which I find irritating. But others whom I respect admire her playing very much.






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[gradus]

I'd like to hear Anderszewski perform the Goldberg vars. since I enjoy the Bach he has recorded, similarly Zimerman although I'm not aware of any commercial recordings by him of Bach's music.

[Beresford]

Record of the week tomorrow on Record Review : Goldbergs by Kolesnikov.

[Pulcinella]

Front Row, 29 December 2020

Chinese pianist Lang Lang discusses his new recordings of Bach's monumental keyboard work, Goldberg Variations.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m000qly0

[DracoM]

Not my bag at all...............sorry.

[Beresford]

I've only heard short clips from Lang Lang, but I was pleasantly surprised, as was Petroc... Not so pleasantly surprised by the new recording from Kolesnikov - too much like squeezing pips out of a lemon, in the faster sections.

I now think my comment above was too harsh, having just heard and seen the Goldbergs played in February by Kolesnikov from the Wigmore Hall's listen again service, available until about 15th March.

His interpretation is brisk, characterful, especially near the end, full of dynamic contrasts between variations, and without the excessive grip that I heard on his CD. He seemed more relaxed, joyful, and amenable to going the way the music took him.
A very individualistic and interesting performance, so forget about the lemon.