Bach: Well Tempered Clavier Books I & II

Advantages: Light, clear, could be played over and again
Disadvantages: Perhaps lacks a bit of magic or sparkle

...If I was to think of performers I would choose to play my favourite pieces of music, then I would not readily think of the Oregon Bach Festival Chamber Orchestra. But a friend of mine who played in the orchestra tipped me off that this was a good one. So I got hold of the CD, opened a bottle of red and sat back with an open mind. Surprise surprise, it's good. Enthusiastic playing for sure, with plenty of joie de vivre. The typical American attention to detail slightly grates with my British sense of spontaneity, but the flawless phrasing, breathing (and no doubt bowing too) and dynamics work in the overall performances because of the lack of indulgence in the tempi. Bach can all too easily sound like a mathematical exercise written out in notes, but there is a lightness and deftness of touch here in the conducting that lifts this out... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A definite easy listen
Disadvantages: Maybe too easy

...This CD was probably a strange choice for me as i've never bought a classical album before, but i was attracted by the front cover ( i know never judge a book by its cover, but it was a CD) which seemed to depict everything i was looking for. Something i could just lie back, listen to and drift away into my own little dream world. Well it did exactly that. I drifted off to sleep after about track 6 and dint wake untill the CD had ended. This unfortunately meant id missed out on the majority of the songs but i soon listened to it again to get the full effect. It is definitely as described a very peaceful album. The music seems to lift you up and allow u to float above the world but i warn it does make u feel very drowsy. Whether id advise u to buy it or not depends on if ur into classical music. Although saying that i wudnt... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

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"!

...[NOTE: This review dates from January 2001, shortly after that personal musical milestone when I first heard Martha Argerich through this J. S. Bach recording--only to be blown away over to the next galaxy. I’ve edited the piece for clarity, but have not updated or altered the original tone.] Eureka! I have just discovered another great pianist! Goes by the name of Martha Argerich, ever heard of her? Well, for hermit-living-under-a-rock Philistine me, not till now! I’m only a few decades late, but I finally made her acquaintance recently, through a Toccata, a Partita, and an English Suite composed by my beloved J. S. Bach. All found on a CD purchased on the spur of the moment, music unheard, believing that Deutsche Grammophon Records could not be exaggerating when they included Martha Argerich in the re-releases of their "Legendary... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful