CD Review on 18th Feb: with JSB's Goldberg Variations on BAL

[Jared]

a) first was naxos -- could not understand the fuss about the work -- no feeling [IMHO]

James

nice write-up James... the Naxos version is the Jeno Jando version I referred to above; the one I disposed of. Very clinical and 'mathematical' wasn't it?

[Seán]

I have:
Gustav Leonhardt (harpischord);
Bruce Canino (piano) and
András Schiff (piano) from 1983

But

[Seán]

the winner..

[Seán]

is:



András Schiff (piano) on ECM

[Jared]

^^ thank you Sean... did Hewitt's get a mention, by any chance?

[Diapason]

Did Pierre Hantai get a look-in? I always really admire his reading. Truth be told, I find the entire Goldberg's a difficult listen.

[bombasticDarren]

^^ thank you Sean... did Hewitt's get a mention, by any chance?

I'm sure Sean can provide more detail, Hewitt was mentioned but passed over. Pleasant, but a bit bland I think was the reviewers view

[Ciaran]

Schiff's newer ECM recording was Nicholas Kenyon's piano winner (he was piano winner (with his older Decca recording) in 2003) and top choice, but



Christophe Rousset was his harpsichord winner (download only at the moment).



Maggie Cole (OOP at the moment as far as I can see) came second in harpsichord,



Gustav Leonhardt (harpsichord winner the last time the Goldbergs were BAL'd: this was my fourth time hearing the Goldbergs discussed on BAL!) got honourable mention. In the piano stakes,



Perahia was close behind Schiff,



Nikolaeva's live recording and



Nick van Bloss were also in the final reckoning. Rosalyn Tureck was mentioned several times with considerable distaste! Kenyon also said you had to have Glenn Gould's first recording: I'm not sure I'd agree!

I have a few Goldbergs already, on the basis of this BAL I'd be quite inclined to buy Rousset, van Bloss and Perahia.

[Jared]

^^ thanks Ciaran, an excellent post!

[fergus]

I have four Goldbergs and the Rousset would be the pick of them. He is a very fine musician.