Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier

Piotr Anderszewski (piano)

Terwijl J. S. Bachs compositorische bedoelingen met het Wohltemperierte Klavier ogenschijnlijk pedagogisch waren, kiest Piotr Anderszewski in deze opname voor een geheel eigen dramaturgische benadering: in plaats van alle 48 paren preludes en fuga's uit Bachs verzameling na elkaar op te nemen, concentreert de pianist zich op 12 paren delen uit het tweede boek en brengt die in een karakteristiek creatieve betekeniscontext. "Ik besloot de stukken samen te voegen in een volgorde van mijn subjectieve keuze, soms gebaseerd op sleutelrelaties, andere keren op contrasten die de stukken onweerstaanbaar samen lijken te trekken," legt Anderszewski uit. "In muziek is er altijd een verhaal, een emotioneel verhaal, omdat het ene stuk volgt op en verband houdt met het andere ... Het idee om deze werken in deze specifieke volgorde te spelen is om een gevoel van drama te creëren dat een cyclus suggereert: 12 personages die met elkaar in gesprek zijn en elkaar weerspiegelen."

Bach, J S - Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870
 Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 876
 Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 877
 Prelude and Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878
 Prelude and Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880
 Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881
 Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885
 Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886
 Prelude and Fugue No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 887
 Prelude and Fugue No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 891
 Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892
 Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893

"Anderszewski here poses a most intriguing question: what happens when you take a group of 12 Preludes and Fugues from Book 2 of the ‘48’ and intermingle them? The result...is less of a box of Quality Street to be consumed slumped on the sofa and more of an invitation to a cocktail party of great sophistication. Anderszewski says in the note that he perceives them as character pieces and indeed the result has the feeling of a Baroque Carnaval."
Gramophone Magazine - February 2021

"Anderszewski here poses a most intriguing question: what happens when you take a group of 12 Preludes and Fugues from Book 2 of the ‘48’ and intermingle them? The result...is less of a box of Quality Street to be consumed slumped on the sofa and more of an invitation to a cocktail party of great sophistication. Anderszewski says in the note that he perceives them as character pieces and indeed the result has the feeling of a Baroque Carnaval."
Gramophone Magazine - February 2021

"This is playing of unadorned purity, shorn of all extra-mural attractions in performances that often transcend even the most exalted names. There is none of Gould’s eccentricity or Tureck’s occasional pedantry...He makes you long for more Bach, or indeed any other great composer. A pianist who offers no concessions, who remains entirely himself, Anderszewski achieves something of Lipatti’s level of exaltation."
International Piano - March 2021

"For this listener at least, Anderszewski’s interpretations and juxtapositions have a compelling inevitability; but the other reason for the recording’s success lies in his pianism. Anderszewski’s flexible, responsive touch and his often slowish tempos allow a subtle suggestiveness..The whole set is beautiful from start to finish."
BBC Music Magazine - April 2021 *****