Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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24 of 25 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Terrific performance, 13 Nov 2002
By A Customer
Bach's keyboard Toccatas, as Angela Hewitt explains in her illuminating liner notes, are early works which the young Bach may have used as showpieces for his compositional and virtuoso talents. They are characterised, what is more, by a mix of startling improvisatory passages (the opening 'toccata' sections) and exhilarating fugal sections. Perhaps this is what the young Johann Sebastian sounded when he was improvising at the keyboard? With the exception of maybe two or three (the C minor, Gmajor, and D major pieces), they are not generally amongst the best known of Bach's pieces for solo keyboard nor are they, it must be said, among the very best: Hewitt herself states that some of the fugal sections can sound a little relentless and unyielding in the wrong hands. Thankfully, though, Hewitt's hands are most definitely the right ones and her performance on the modern grand piano is one of very best. Technically, she is as excellent as we have come to expect - there can be few performances of the tight fugal sections that are as clear or as masterful. But what makes these performances truly outstanding are the musical virtues of Angela Hewitt's playing: the wonderful flexible and vital rhythmic momentum which is brought to even the most difficult of passages, the lovely play of light and shade that is so seldom heard in these pieces, the clarity of texture and the illuminating interplay between the voices, not to forget the beautiful poise and touch which is one of the hallmark's of Hewitt's Bach. Make no mistake: this is Bach playing of the highest order, Bach playing that is warm and humane. Angela Hewitt is developing into one of our finest pianists - and not just in Bach, as those who know her Ravel will attest.
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9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Bach and Hewitt - a Marriage Made in Heaven, 23 Feb 2006
Being a great aficionado of J S Bach’s keyboard works, I have long admired Angela Hewitt’s interpretations of these compositions. She is possessed of a truly magical balance of emotion, intellect, and soul which gives the phrase “breathes life into the music” new depth and meaning. Her CD titled “The Toccatas” has instantly become my favourite of all her Bach interpretations I have had the immense pleasure to hear. It is a genuine jewel of recordings; I recommend it to anyone who enjoys this genre most highly. Moving interpretations, phrasing to die for, nothing over-done – a wonderful musical experience. If one were going to choose a single album to introduce Bach keyboard music to someone who is not faimiliar with it it, this would be the CD.
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8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Fabulous, 3 Nov 2003
Nothing much to add to what other revieweers have said. These are not Bach's most profound works, but thoroughly enjoyable all the same. Well played: these are robust rhythmic sprited performances, totally approriate to the compositions. Sound quality is excellent (though the piano is a Steinway rather than the lovely Fazioli that Angel Hewitt sometimes uses.)Also a minor pro: the tracking is done well. Each toccata is on one track, with index points for the various movements. This is a much better way of arranging a CD than what most publishers do, i.e. one track per movement. This means that if you want to listen to, for example, Toccata number 6, then you can just program in that number, rather than programming in tracks 18, 19, 20 and 21.
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