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Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Recorded in 1980 and reissued in the Deutsche Grammophon Originals series, this disc just preceded the nightmare years in which "purists" tended to consider the performance of Bach on the modern piano a crime punishable with instant death. Nevertheless, a number of the world's finest "thinking" pianists not only championed Bach consistently but have continued to produce interpretations of a depth, spirituality and power that put many players of the "right" instruments to shame. This is one such disc and it is only a pity that there is not more of it (at 50 minutes it mirrors the length of LPs). Martha Argerich presents intense, minor-key Bach: fierce but pure, finely argued and rhetorical yet never losing the rhythm of dance; expressive but contained and articulated with beautiful clarity. Her intensity is completely compelling from the very first note of the C minor Toccata onwards: she demands, seizes and holds attention at every moment. Her personal vision displays the emotional darkness at the heart of these pieces without any suggestion of mannerism or gimmick.--Jessica Duchen
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Pretty much the greatest record of all time.,
This review is from: Bach, J.S.: Toccata BWV 911; Partita No.2; English Suite No.2 (Audio CD)
Unmatched in clarity, excitement, playfulness and sincerity - without affectation or sentimentality - Martha Argerich's minor-key Bach provides some of the purest intellectual and emotional transports available within all Western Art. The entire thing is stunning, but I'll single out the closing fugue of the Toccata, the "swinging" Cappricio from the Partita and the "still point" achieved in the Sarabande of the English Suite for special recommendation... oh but the way she builds the crescendo over the G major passage in the ES Prelude, say, or the silken flow of the opening phrases of the Partita Allemande, or...
This is pretty much the greatest record of all time. A single problem: when you realize that Argerich hasn't recorded enough Bach, and this is really all you're going to get, you might begin to see it as mocking you. You may even resent it. What can we do but swallow our gall and listen on?
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning,
By
This review is from: Bach, J.S.: Toccata BWV 911; Partita No.2; English Suite No.2 (Audio CD)
I came to this as an occasional listener of classical music. I was awestruck not only by the vibrancy of the Bach pieces, but by the quality of the playing. Ms Argerich manages to make every note sound considered, a carefully selected choice, and the overall effect is stunning. Sometimes it sounds like some other instrument other than a piano being played! I can't recommend this highly enough.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
4.8 out of 5 stars (29 customer reviews) 54 of 57 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
reputable interpretation of Bach on the piano,
By Niya - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach, J.S.: Toccata BWV 911; Partita No.2; English Suite No.2 (Audio CD)
In some ways, it might be more difficult to play Bach on the piano than on the harpsichord. One doesn't always find pianists giving convincing interpretations of Bach that seem to stand the test of time. They need to good fingers, great intellect, an intuitive sense of rhythm, clear and clean sound production, a style suited to the music of Bach, and an awareness of the grand musical structure in his music. They also need the greatest sensitivity for harmonies and colors. Martha Argerich has many of these qualities. In her Bach, there is a unique intensity and drama. She creates powerful and vivid characterization and impressions with great economy. Ineffable and dramatic moments seem sometimes produced by no more than the slightest shading or the subtlest rubato. The secret may lie in the concentration. This is music making that has the potential to challenge one's mind. It might give an impression that Argerich had a fastidious and serious attitude when playing Bach, but her playing at the same time has a feeling of effortlessness and naturalness also - I found. It was my impression that her performance of Bach here achieved a relatively degree of simplicity. If I remember correctly, Chopin might have said that simplicity is the "final seal of art(s)"?
The length of this recording is not the longest (50'16)- one of the shorter ones in DG's "The Originals" legendary recordings series. However, Argerich also recorded the Bach Cello Sonatas with Mischa Maisky (also by DG). Years ago, I found myself listening to these two CD's quite often. They could be stimulating when I listened to them intently, but they proved to be a soothing companion for my book reading at times. 30 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Argerich's purism and poetry in Bach is UNSURPASSABLE!,
By Eytan Ýpeker - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach, J.S.: Toccata BWV 911; Partita No.2; English Suite No.2 (Audio CD)
Martha Argerich is an absolute winner in Bach. Surpsingly so in some ways but not totally so: The maximum fingercontrol/clarity/artýculaion makes a Bach recording that one can easly call DEFINITIVE, a term that nobody dared to use for Argerich before. Not even the most 'purist' listener will be able to say "This is not Bach,it's Argerich"(BTW,listen to her new EMI concert recordings of the same tracks and you will be amazed to see the difference between the wilder/ truly 'Argerich' concert approach and this calmer and more Bach-like studio approach: She is simply someone else in the studio!..) Yet,in this studio recording righly reissued in the Deutsche Gramaphone's LEGENDARY RECORDÝNGS series,one can also guess that such a natural sounding poetry, such a 'color-range',such an elegence and beauty cannot be anyone but Martha Argerich. This is how the purist approach Bach should be ideally. Having listened to Richter's(Well-tempered), Gould's(well-tempered)and a few others' Bach, Argerich's recording reminds me of Plato's cave parable.
23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the most extraordinary classical recordings ever,
By Cheryl P Sucher - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: Bach, J.S.: Toccata BWV 911; Partita No.2; English Suite No.2 (Audio CD)
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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