Bach: Concerts with Several Instruments

Advantages: Brilliant, stirring, excitingly unpredictable, fresh performance; "genius" is not hyperbole in Argerich's case.
Disadvantages: Reflecting its LP origins, the CD lasts only 50' 16"!

.... Born in Argentina in 1941, Argerich debuted on the stage at age five, giving recitals in Buenos Aires while receiving lessons from "a despot with sadistic tendencies," as she refers to the Italian maestro, Vincenzo Scaramuzza. Her family moved shortly thereafter to Vienna, so the young pianist could study with the well-known teachers of Europe. There she first came under the tutelage of Friedrich Gulda, a highly respected interpreter of Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, and a classical musician who also delved into jazz. As a child, she was a very reluctant pianist, and tried to avoid practice sessions. As an adult, she has expressed her deep dislike not of *playing the piano*, but of living the life of a concert pianist. She has claimed that her piano practising has never been systematic. In one of her rare interviews, Argerich tells... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Beautiful relaxing music. Rich instrumentation. Played with passion.
Disadvantages: Not all instruments are from the period.

...If I was ever asked to select my "desert island discs", top of my list would be Bach's Brandenburg Concertos. (I wonder if there's a category in the ciao café?. . . ) The six Brandenburg concertos, each with their distinct quality and sound requiring a different combination of instruments, are not only a delight to listen to but exemplify the intellectual musical genius of their composer, Johann Sebastian Bach. All six are composed in major keys creating and maintaining a cheerful, vivacious collection. The modulations of key demanded by the baroque conventions are skilfully completed and Bach's predilection for numbers and ornate touches are evident. I could say more but this isn't a musical analysis . . . I am not alone in my high estimation, The Brandenburg concertos are now probably the best loved and most frequently performed works... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Wonderful transcriptions of JS Bach's majestic music; sensitive, tender, vivacious, effortless and fluid playing.
Disadvantages: Nil.

...Her latest CD from EMI Classics, ‘Bach/Works for Trumpet’, already tops zerbine28's list for Classical CD of the Year. (I know, I know, it's only April as I post this, but that's how strongly I feel about this recording.) Readers, if you please, do welcome young British trumpet player Alison Balsom, who now joins the ranks of Mssrs Miles Davis and Herb Alpert in my teeny-tiny list of favourite trumpeters. No, I never heard of her, either, before yesterday, when I first sampled her CD at the local Borders book and music shop. Released just this past January, the CD is an absolute stunner. The title is a little misleading, because Johann Sebastian Bach never wrote pieces specifically for the instrument (discounting the Brandenburg Concerto No. 2, of course). Besides which, the ‘trumpet’ in Bach’s time... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful