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

[Mandryka]

I realize the complete set is under discussion, but is there any love for Argerich in the Second?

I prefer Virginia Black

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LF4ihEDEYi0&list=OLAK5uy_kEvgy23zurRXmf7x3zS39toGAOGB-Hb8E&index=7&ab_channel=VirginiaBlack-Topic

[richardfinegold]

No one better in my view. There's the DG recording from yonks ago, but several more recent versions on youtube.

One could draw up a composite: Lipatti in first, Argerich in second, Gould in fourth, Piotyr A in 6...Perahia or Goode in the others?

I am a little bothered by the format seems to require all of the works in a set being considered. There were many Artists that didn’t feel that they needed to be completists

[Pulcinella]

Bumping in preparation for this afternoon's clash with the FA Cup Final.
Maybe a non-sporty person can give us a summary.
As mentioned elsewhere, I'm off to hear Tenebrae sing in Beverley Minster.

[AuntDaisy]

Non-sporty person (live) summary:

Dinu Lipatti piano
Scott Ross on the harpsichord Allemande Partita 1 - "elegant, allows music to speak for itself; warmth".
Piano vs. Harpsichord Joanna MacGregor: "I love the harpsichord".
Vladimir Feltsman Nimbus 1999 Saraband Partita 1. "Mould & do marvellous things on the piano".
Rosalyn Tureck 1950s Gigue Partita 1 - "listen to her left hand", "I like the vintage recorded sound".
Glenn Gould Sinfonia Partita 2 1960s, "more intuitive player", "heavy staccato on left hand".
Angela Hewitt's 2nd recording - "different sound... and how stylish she is".
András Schiff earlier recording Capriccio of Partita 2 "such freedom and swing & a huge amount of decision making".
Zuzana Růžičková harpsichord Scherzo Partita 3, "teacher of Hogwood" "rather epic... huge sound".
Vladimir Feltsman Gigue Partita 3 "beautiful playing" "great momentum and rhythm"
András Schiff Overture Partita 4 "decorative, ornamental, light & sculpted - I really llike it"
Rosalyn Tureck Allemande Partita 4 "plays a piece of philosophy..." "Glenn Gould is a lot slower... almost in a heavy blues way"
Zuzana Růžičková harpsichord Gigue Partita 4 "retro"
Glenn Gould Gigue Partita 4 "...has got shape... really intelligent.. everyone dazzled by his touch & speed"
Dinu Lipatti out of running, others still in.
Vladimir Feltsman Prelude Partita 5 "brilliance & exuberance"
Scott Ross harpsichord Partita 6 "Wonderfull elegant and sincere playing".
Angela Hewitt "mighty fugue begins to start" after tocatta Partita 6 "intimate... darkness in how she shows the harmony"
Rosalyn Tureck Allemande Partita 6 "elegant.. subtle.. philosophical" "absolutely beautiful left hand".
Down to final three...
Glenn Gould Courante Partita 6 "Fantastic playing... jazzy quality.. .subtle"
Rosalyn Tureck above Glenn Gould.
On harpsichord, Scott Ross "pure & modern"; always go to Zuzana Růžičková for "fun & colour"
András Schiff Gigue Partita 6 "wit, generosity... warm".

[Pulcinella]

Just dipped in for a couple of minutes (I keep thinking it starts at 4 not 3!) and twice heard: 'We haven't got time to....'

Maybe they should make the programme (or the BaL slot) longer?
Fat chance!

[Lordgeous]

Just dipped in for a couple of minutes (I keep thinking it starts at 4 not 3!) and twice heard: 'We haven't got time to....'

Maybe they should make the programme (or the BaL slot) longer?
Fat chance!

I've said that so many times on this forum! But a very good BAL I thought, and Schiff a worthy winner.

[AuntDaisy]

Just dipped in for a couple of minutes (I keep thinking it starts at 4 not 3!) and twice heard: 'We haven't got time to....'
Maybe they should make the programme (or the BaL slot) longer?
Fat chance!

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

[Retune]

No one better in my view. There's the DG recording from yonks ago, but several more recent versions on youtube.

One could draw up a composite: Lipatti in first, Argerich in second, Gould in fourth, Piotyr A in 6...Perahia or Goode in the others?

The DG Bach 333 megabox went for both Lipatti and Pires in 1, Argerich in 2, Rafal Blechacz in 3, Benjamin Grosvenor in 4, Ashkenazy in 5 and Schiff in 6, as well as the complete Rousset set.

[MickyD]

Haven't caught up with this yet...thanks to Aunt Daisy for the summary. I really had hoped for more recent harpsichord versions to be considered, there are so many fine ones.

[Beresford]

Tribune (piano only) has 123456 as Levit, Gould, Perahia, Feltman, Geniet (2014), and Zhu Xiao-Mei (1999). Much disagreement. No others considered.

[AuntDaisy]

Haven't caught up with this yet...thanks to Aunt Daisy for the summary. I really had hoped for more recent harpsichord versions to be considered, there are so many fine ones.

I really enjoyed that BAL and found it very interesting esp. Joanna MacGregor's insights on playing.
Bit disappointed that Trevor Pinnock wasn't in the running.

[CallMePaul]

I've said that so many times on this forum! But a very good BAL I thought, and Schiff a worthy winner.

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.

[Retune]

I'm not sure it would be possible to do full justice to both piano and harpsichord interpretations in a single programme of this length, and they aren't really directly comparable - you probably know you want one or the other before the discussion begins. This was very much a pianist's review, and was none the worse for that - if anything, it might have been better to cover just the piano versions this time, leaving room to consider recent recordings by Levit and Grosvenor as well as Perahia etc., and perhaps touch on one or two of the outstanding single work recordings by pianists who have not covered the whole set. But of course I'd also like to hear a companion programme from the early music perspective!

[Pulcinella]

From the BBC R3 website:

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

[Darloboy]

Non-sporty person (live) summary:

…

On harpsichord, Scott Ross "pure & modern"; always go to Zuzana Růžičková for "fun & colour".

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