Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Johann Bernhard Bach, Wanda Landowska :: Legendary Performers: Landowska

Fasten Your Seat-Belt.

John Austin | Kangaroo Ground, Australia | 08/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"RCA have reissued all the Bach recordings made by Landowska in the
USA, except for her complete recording of Bach's 48, on this
splendid 2 CD set. Most of the items on the first CD were recorded in
New York in 1945-6 and include her second (and much better) recording
of the Goldberg Variations. All these items receive majestic
treatment; indeed, the Prelude, Fugue and Allegro, originally for
lute, is overpowering in its grandeur. The items on the second CD
were recorded later, in her Connecticut home, and include an
unfinished recording of the Three-Part Inventions on which she was
working at the time of her death at the age of 80. The fingers may
not have been quite as responsive at this time, but this is still
playing like no other. If you are becoming bored with some of the
present-day "automatic pilot" performances of Bach's
keyboard works, you should fasten your seat-belt before listening to
these.
"

This is a CD you will never tire of

John Austin | 06/21/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Wanda Landowska had as her goal to recreate the sound of the harpsichord from the time of Bach, and to listen to the Goldberg Variations on this CD is to image that Bach is playing for you."