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Reviews: Bach: Keyboard Concertos Vol. 2 - Perahia

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Reviews: 2

Review by darkroommd January 17, 2007 (7 of 7 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
If you have searched the net for reviews on Perahia's Bach albums (this one, the Keyboard Concertos Vol. 1, and the highly acclaimed Goldberg Variations), you have come across virtually unanimous praise for these performances. I own all three.

Let me add my $0.02 by saying that this is some of the finest piano playing I have ever heard. From the opening three-note triadic motive of the D major concerto, it is apparent that this is going to be some special music making from Perahia and the ASMF. Perahia's exquisite phrasing, ornamentations, articulation, tone colorings, dynamics, and tempi are all so perfect--all so thoughtfully considered and perfectly executed--that I can hardly imagine any future performers would have much important left to say about these outstanding works.

The ASMF is in utterly top form here as well, supporting Perahia's artistic goals with identical phrasing, perfect balance, and vigor.

The stereo SACD transfer of the original PCM RBCD does not add a great deal sonically. However the good news is that the Sony recording was already superlative, already transparent and well staged. (Nothing really to be remastered here.) If the piano sound has been better captured previously, I am not aware of it.

This is one of those rare discs that will never become tiresome to hear again and again.

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Review by canonical February 28, 2009 (3 of 3 found this review helpful)
Performance:   Sonics:
Perahia doing Bach, as Perahia does Bach: very clean and very smooth. Very un-Gould. If Gould uses the piano to try and emulate the detached sound of a harpsichord (always sans pedal), Perahia is almost the opposite. Having said so, the sound Perahia achieves in the second movement (largo) of Concerto No. 5 (BWV 1056) is simply fabulous ... one of my favourite piano sounds on SACD (after the Tchetuev Schnittke SACD on Caro Mitis). Beautifully recorded.

I may be wrong, but it does sound to my ear as though the piano has been tuned below A = 440 Hz. The sound is slightly flat to my ear, though not to the extent that one would find in an authentic instrument recording. There is no mention in the programme notes to this effect.

Perahia's Goldberg variations on SACD is now almost impossible to find, and this SACD seems to be heading the same way, so grab it while you can. Highly recommended.

End-notes:
1.The so-called Concerto No. 6 is derived from the harpsichord continuo part in Brandenburg No.4 ... and I think it is the first time I have actually heard this played on the piano rather than the harpsichord. In this instance alone, I am not sure that the transition to pianoforte is successful.

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