I’ve loved this work ever since the BBC broadcast video performances shared by -
Gavrilov, MacGregor, Demidenko & Hewitt
I then bought Schiff’s Bach set & Gould’s.
I’ve since also explored Feinberg’s and Richter’s sets.
Who do you guys count among your favourites in this hallowed repertoire?
Sort of related. Did Backhaus ever record a complete set? I enjoyed his laser like perfs from the old recs previously posted.
I love Richter’s Book 1, and Sokolov is extraordinary in much of Book 2. Feinberg’s is a bit of an alternate take, but is highly worthwhile in both books. I rarely listen to any other complete sets, but beyond them I’d first say take a look at Fischer. Schiff offers quality musicianship, and he has my favourite Book II F minor, but I find his Bach too limpid and prettified. It works great in the Goldbergs, but I often have problems with it elsewhere. Several more good if you’re fine with selections - including Backhaus, who did not record a complete set.
The Tureck is a pretty good alternative for da G-man.
I also really like the rather unknown recording of Eunice Norton:
Oh yes… I keep forgetting her. Her BBC rec is really good.
Eh, Tureck.
Norton I’m not familiar with.
She was an American student of A. Schnabel who specialized in Bach…
Listening now. She plays well.
For a completely different sort of experience, it’s also nice to listen to Landowska playing her specially built Pleyel harpsichord…
Fischer was first I heard and still love it. Also like Feinberg.
Gieseking is one that I listened to recently and liked, although the transfer was slightly flat.
I adore Feinberg, and there are a few different takes available of many of the PF’s…
Maybe my overall fave set?
And HJ LIM (aka da Handjob) for pure WTF stylee
Richter
Feinberg
Fischer
I can’t think of any others as good as those. I enjoy Schepkin, Aldwell, Nikolayeva. Gieseking could be better.
What I heard from Gieseking was quite disappointing, even sloppy.
After the war, his level was not quite the same and in the 1950s he also had some health problems after a bus/car accident. Apart from that, he was simply too busy with teaching and concertizing, lacking time to be really well prepared for such huge projects as recording complete WTC.
I have to admit I didn’t listen to that much of it because the tuning bugged me, but I didn’t notice the sloppiness? I probably didn’t get far enough into it to hear that. I don’t think I really have a favourite WTC. I probably listen to Richter’s the most (usually the studio version). I don’t always agree with his interpretations, but he has this amazing ability to win me over even when my instincts go against what he does.
Maybe tiz not sloppiness but itz a sort of rushing that annoys me…
live Richter remains my favorite. But I’ve enjoyed Mustonen’s book 1 a lot lately, and Gould is a sentimental choice even though I’ve outgrown most of it.
Feinberg and handjob
Realizing I have Pollini, Hewitt and Nikolaieva as well. If somebody Reeeeely wants these let me know. I am on slow DSL so it takes a while.
Favouritez from Book 1?
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