Est 1923

Bach (The) Well-Tempered Clavier I & II

Varying – and variable – treatment of Bach’s 48: four players in four venues

Record and Artist Details

Composer or Director: Johann Sebastian Bach

Genre:

DVD

Label: Euroarts

Media Format: Digital Versatile Disc

Media Runtime: 260

Mastering:

Stereo

Catalogue Number: 2050309

Tracks:

Composition Artist Credit
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C, BWV846 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C minor, BWV847 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp, BWV848 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp minor, BWV849 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D, BWV850 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D minor, BWV851 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat, BWV852 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat minor/D sharp minor, BWV853 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E, BWV854 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E minor, BWV855 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F, BWV856 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F minor, BWV857 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Andrei Gavrilov, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp, BWV858 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp minor, BWV859 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G, BWV860 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G minor, BWV861 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A flat, BWV862 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G sharp minor, BWV863 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A, BWV864 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A minor, BWV865 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat, BWV866 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat minor, BWV867 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B, BWV868 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B minor, BWV869 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Joanna MacGregor, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C, BWV870 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C minor, BWV871 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp, BWV872 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp minor, BWV873 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D, BWV874 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D minor, BWV875 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat, BWV876 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D sharp minor, BWV877 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E, BWV878 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E minor, BWV879 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F, BWV880 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F minor, BWV881 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Nikolai Demidenko, Piano
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp, BWV882 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp minor, BWV883 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G, BWV884 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G minor, BWV885 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A flat, BWV886 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G sharp minor, BWV887 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A, BWV888 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A minor, BWV889 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat, BWV890 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat minor, BWV891 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B, BWV892 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B minor, BWV893 Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
Angela Hewitt, Piano
Johann Sebastian Bach, Composer
In February 2000 BBC Wales and Euroarts Music co-produced Bach’s complete Well-Tempered Clavier for television, dividing the work between four very different pianists filmed in four visually distinct venues. Rather than impart a concert performance continuity between the pieces, directors Karen Whiteside (Book 1) and Peter Mumford (Book 2) treat each Prelude and Fugue as a separate entity in terms of lighting, camera angles, placement of the piano, extramusical imagery (kept to a minimum, thank goodness), as well as the pianists’ wardrobe and hairstyles.

Collectors familiar with Andrei Gavrilov’s romantically tinged, pianistically oriented Bach French Suites won’t register much surprise as to how he treats Book 1’s first 12 Preludes and Fugues. Contrapuntal rigour takes a back seat to melodic nuance and tone colour in his languid, slightly sedate way with the C major, C sharp minor and D sharp minor Fugues. It’s interesting how Gavrilov’s pianism contrasts with the stark visual impact of Walsall’s Art Gallery. Conversely, the gothic, shadowy detail Whiteside conveys in Barcelona’s Güell Palace differs from Joanna McGregor’s leaner propulsion throughout Book 1 Nos 13-24.

While she and Gavrilov use the printed score, Nikolai Demidenko and Angela Hewitt play Book 2 from memory. The plangent clarity of Demidenko’s Fazioli concert grand stands out in Nos 1-12 (the other pianists perform on Steinways), as well as several tempo choices not to my taste, such as an overly fast and flippant F minor Prelude. At the same time, his linear clarity in the difficult-to-balance C sharp major Prelude and rhythmic swagger in the D major Prelude greatly impress.

Of the four pianists, Angela Hewitt commands the widest variety of articulations and inner dynamics, together with her finely honed ability to follow Bach’s lines through to their final destination without sounding the least bit studied. Cogent examples include the long-lined refinement of Hewitt’s G sharp minor Prelude and Fugue, the G major Prelude’s lilting, conversational trajectory, and the B major Prelude’s delicate yet firmly centred fingerwork. In the B flat minor Prelude the camera zooms in on Hewitt from above, allowing one to observe how she achieves her superior legato through fingers and hand balance alone. Aside from optional titles, the menu offers no bells and whistles to supplement the programme but the audio engineering boasts ample warmth and presence.

Bach (The) Well-Tempered Clavier I & II

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C, BWV846

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C minor, BWV847

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp, BWV848

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp minor, BWV849

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D, BWV850

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D minor, BWV851

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat, BWV852

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat minor/D sharp minor, BWV853

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E, BWV854

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E minor, BWV855

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F, BWV856

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F minor, BWV857

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp, BWV858

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp minor, BWV859

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G, BWV860

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G minor, BWV861

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A flat, BWV862

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G sharp minor, BWV863

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A, BWV864

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A minor, BWV865

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat, BWV866

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat minor, BWV867

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B, BWV868

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B minor, BWV869

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C, BWV870

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C minor, BWV871

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp, BWV872

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: C sharp minor, BWV873

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D, BWV874

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D minor, BWV875

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E flat, BWV876

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: D sharp minor, BWV877

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E, BWV878

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: E minor, BWV879

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F, BWV880

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F minor, BWV881

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp, BWV882

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: F sharp minor, BWV883

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G, BWV884

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G minor, BWV885

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A flat, BWV886

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: G sharp minor, BWV887

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A, BWV888

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: A minor, BWV889

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat, BWV890

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B flat minor, BWV891

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B, BWV892

(Das) Wohltemperierte Klavier, '(The) Well-Tempered Clavier, Movement: B minor, BWV893

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