J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich

J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich | Johann Sebastian Bach, Martha Argerich | Remarkable little recording

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J.S. Bach: Toccata...

	J.S. Bach: Toccata, Partita, English Suite 2/ Martha Argerich Johann Sebastian Bach, Martha Argerich Deutsche Grammophon, 2000 average customer review:based on 23 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

One of the most extraordinary classical recordings ever

I first heard this recording over twenty years ago in a small, dusty apartment in Tel Aviv. As a serious piano student, I was accomplished in playing Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. In fact, Glenn Gould's piano rendition of Book One was the first album I ever purchased. I was familiar with Gould's Bach interpretation, and when my Israeli friend heard my praise, he went to his cupboard and produced this recording. "You've never heard Bach played like this," he said, smiling wistfully. He played the LP and the room was suddenly alive with the internal joy and rhythmic nuance that only the best Bach performers can capture. Over the years, I have returned to this recording for creative inspiration as it sounds as fresh and vital on the thousandth hearing as the first. There is intelligence, wonder and extraordinary musicality in Argerich's technique inspired by the composer's crafty genius. She is a wonder.

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Remarkable little recording

For someone who does so well with Romantic piano works, it is astounding how well Argerich handles Bach in this recording. With such popular Bach pieces, any performer would face established Bach keyboardists who have nearly defined these works--the famous trio of Gould, Landowska, and Tureck always come up. But Argerich is radiant in her orchestra-like handling of the works. The Toccata in C minor awakens with a mordent, like a clarion call. She takes us through it with a breathless, moving slow section. The fugue is handled in a dance-like fashion, passing through the impetuous lines of triplets, and the double-fugue that follows is rich in tone color. Her dynamic sensitivity offers an extra device for tension when sequencing and modulating. The second Partita and second English Suite, likewise, are both clear in texture, phrasing, and articulation--from the introspective Sinfonia of the partita to the frenzy Bouree of the English suite, and ending in the stately gigue. This recording is full of life wealth for the ears.

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This recording has a lot to say about Bach on the piano.

Argerich is, of course, a genius. While these pieces are not the most technically demanding works she could have recorded (I believe there is NOTHING beyond her), she certainly provides briliant, thoughtful, and pleasing performances of these three works.

Everything seems perfectly and purposefully played while seeming spontaneous as well. This is not an easy feat. Her playing always seems urgent and fresh.

I hate to pick favorite tracks, but 1, 5, 6, 7, & 12 really stand out for me. However, if you think others are better I certainly wouldn't argue against you. Everything here is wonderful.

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Argerich and Bach

This is the best Bach on the piano ever recorded in studio.
Argerich is probably most famous as a virtuoso in the great romantic tradition but this single Bach disc represents her universal talent.Artisticly comparable with Gould,but with more natural control of rubato,more briliance and the most impoartant more human caracter in music.ON this recording every frase comes and goes natural in the same time with great control of sound, colour and touch. Everything on this CD is beautiful.

It's Great!

I love this CD. It is moving and expansive. If you like Bach, I don't think you can go wrong with this one.

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reviews: 1, 2, page 3, 4, 5

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Classical Music Basics I...Pointedly
Bach English Suites on Piano
Bach Partitas on Piano
Keyboard masterworks