Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Maria João Pires :: Maria Joao Pires ~ Bach - Partita No. 1 · English Suite No. 3 · French Suite No. 2

Nothing like it

Orpheus | on the road | 04/18/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There has been written alot concerning Bach and the proper way to play his keyboard music. This recording is a very strong argument in favor of playing this music on a modern piano.



Maria Joao Pires stuns with her crystalline featherlight toucher and obvious joy with which she plays this wonderful music. And to be honest: since I heared it for the first time I prefer her rendition above that of greates like Richter and Gould.



Her take on Bach is overwhelmingly universal- disclosing the spiritual treasures inherent in Bach's music, yet at the same time full of intimacy and an almost poetic tenderness, rare to most renditions of Bach. The partita is played with a fluent and natural authority- playful yet profound- a sunny prelude to the immense waves that conlude the majestic Gigue of the English suite.



This unique recording shines with translucent warmth and a rare natural ambiance- kudos to the engineer. Listening, I cannot help to muse about an integral recording of such pieces as the Well-tempered klavier and the Goldberg variations.

Who knows..."

An all time favorite.

Xyp | Cincinnati, OH | 09/03/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This disc of Bach keyboard from Maria Joao Pires is simply one of the best single disc traversals of this repertoire that I have ever come across. For those non-purists about Bach keyboard performance, it is recommendable at the highest level; it holds company in my record collection with the likes of Perahia's Goldbergs, Richter's Well-Tempered Clavier, and Hewitt's English Suites (and others from her, for that matter).



Pires' lyrical touch and communication with Bach's phrasing are simply awesome. Truly, I wish that Ms. Pires had recorded the full cycle of Partitas, as this performance of the First is one of my all time favorites.



This is a must-own disc."