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I know its been a while since I last posted anything, but I thought I would take a page out of Anthony's book and list my favorite Bach pianists. Keep in mind they are not listed in any particular order, all of these guys are top notch and I love them all. Without further ado here are my favorite Bach players of all time...
1.) Martha Argerich - Normally associated with big romantic works such as the Rachmaninoff and Tchaikovsky Concertos, Ms. Argerich is also a a scintillating Bach player. Pick up her recording on DG of the C minor Toccata, C minor Partita, and A minor English suite and you will hear a most tempestuous and fiery reading. Although there is certainly much brio in this recording, she does restrain herself to the style of the works.
2.) Glenn Gould - Probably the pianist most closely associated with Bach in the publics mind. Both his recordings of the Goldberg Variations have achieved legendary status. Although I tend to lean more toward the 1981 recording, many variations in the 1955 contain a freshness that is not present in the latter recording. Although he remains my favorite goldberg pianist some of his other bach recordings are often too bizarre and dare I say border on distortion of Bach's message. For example some of the fugues in the Well-Tempered Clavier are abstracted to the point where they lose their emotional content. Then again Gould was always full of surprises. There is no other recording of the Bb minor prelude of Book 2 which seems so alive to me. That said he always has some sort of intellectual interpretive process in all his recordings. Whether you love him or hate him you have to admit he was a great figure in the performance of Bach on the piano.
3.) Murray Perahia - After he injured one of his fingers, Mr. Perahia left concert life for several years and studied the music of Bach on a Harpsichord. His recordings of the English Suites and Concerto, which he conducts from the keyboard, display a great understanding of the voice leading implicit in the music of Bach. This comes as no surprise because at Mannes where he studied piano, composition and conducting he was also required to learn Schenkerian analysis. Each page is imbued with both an intellectual understanding of the music and a colorist's approach to dynamic shading. Listen to the second movement of the A minor English suite and you will hear a pianist who shades each note in its own light. A most beautiful approach
4.) Edwin Fischer - This is old school Bach. According to Fischer his Bach is from a long tradition of playing that goes to Beethoven via Czerny, Liszt and Eugene d'Albert. His recording of both books of the Well-Tempered clavier remain some of the most gorgeous bach playing on record. Being just out of the 19th century his approach was, of course, overtly romantic. There are some pieces such as the g minor fugue from book one that are so full of sorrow that being moved is unavoidable.
5.) Daniel Barenboim - I know what you're all thinking, "WTF is Barenboim doing on this list!?" Mr. Barenboim has gotten a bad rap from many in the music community. Admitedly sometimes I took part in the Barenboim bashing. However, I recently purchased his recording of WTC book 1 and was both blown away and drawn in at the same time. I've been listening to this recording pretty much nonstop since last week. Barenboim has a very round tone that makes for a pure cantabile, singing style. Furthermore, he displays a profound intellectual understanding of counterpoint. This is especially evident in the fugues. Every line sings such as I have never heard. Unlike Gould who plays with a very dry, detached sound, Barenboim has an exceptional ability to bring out each voice through a highly acute sense of dynamic shading and intelligent use of the pedal. The end result is the richest Bach sound I have ever heard from anyone ever, period. This along with Fischer's account ranks as my hands down favorite WTC recording of all time.
I know I didnt include such pianists as Tureck, Hewitt and Schiff. This is not because I dont think them exceptional Bach players. Rather I have yet to connect to them on the same emotional level as the pianists in my list. |
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In these times of finals and death papers, I think we all too often forget just how wonderful life is. Although we have times of stress, anger, sadness and dissapointment they only serve to make the good times better. There are times when friends get angry at eachother, causing considerable tension to form between the indiviudals involved. But true friends are hard to come by, and if you've found one, well then congratulations. A true friend is someone who makes you happy, who serves to enrich and help you grow as a human being. This is what I believe to be the true meaning of friendship. In the end all the slings and arrows in life are all but a mere flesh wound. If you have inner strength they can do you no lasting harm. You have to open yourself up to the world, to experience all it has to offer, it expands your understanding of the world and people. This could mean having lunch at a pavement cafe in Paris, or it could be a walk in nature, it does not mater. The important thing seems to be to simply live your life, and do things which make you happy. I know all this sounds like such idealistic crap, but it is something I try to adhere to. Ridicule if you must but try to understand, that is all I ask. |
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Jan. 25th, 2005 @ 09:37 pm
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I know have a Live Journal. Allow for the festivities to commence. |
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