5 favorite Well Tempered Clavier recordings and why

[Mandryka]

Yes indeed.

Book I was recorded a bit later than book II and here DHM's recorded sound was better already from the beginning. But even for book I the Japanese release was an improvement all the same.

It's interesting that the strict pulse, which for me mars the DHM AoF, is not so present in the WTC.

[Mandryka]

@SonicMan46 This is what you need

https://www.amazon.com/J-S-BACH-WELL-TEMPERED-CLAVIER-SACD-hybrid/dp/B001IZ5B2I/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2H3F82SGEKAK&keywords=B001IZ5B2I&qid=1688402909&sprefix=b001iz5b2i%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1

[SonicMan46]

@SonicMan46 This is what you need

https://www.amazon.com/J-S-BACH-WELL-TEMPERED-CLAVIER-SACD-hybrid/dp/B001IZ5B2I/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2H3F82SGEKAK&keywords=B001IZ5B2I&qid=1688402909&sprefix=b001iz5b2i%2Caps%2C145&sr=8-1

Yes - thanks but I've seen that offering and would only 'nibble' maybe at half the price - $80 for 4 discs as my 7th WTC set is a poor deal in my mind (maybe not others?).  Dave

[Todd]

Andras Schiff (ECM) – Clean, clear, unaffected, masterful in every way.  The One, if I had to choose.

Pietro De Maria – The most beautiful version I've heard.

Daniel Barenboim – So, so improper in some ways (it's Bachmaninoff!), but Barenboim delivers exactly what he wants to deliver.  It has grown on me over time.

Michaël Levinas – Heaps o' legato, grand scale, with the instrument taking on an almost organ like sound. 

Edwin Fischer – Old-fashioned, decidedly un-HIP, romanticized, and nearly as beautiful as De Maria – perhaps more in some pieces. 

[SonicMan46]

Andras Schiff (ECM) – Clean, clear, unaffected, masterful in every way.  The One, if I had to choose.
Pietro De Maria – The most beautiful version I've heard.
Daniel Barenboim – So, so improper in some ways (it's Bachmaninoff!), but Barenboim delivers exactly what he wants to deliver.  It has grown on me over time.
Michaël Levinas – Heaps o' legato, grand scale, with the instrument taking on an almost organ like sound. 
Edwin Fischer – Old-fashioned, decidedly un-HIP, romanticized, and nearly as beautiful as De Maria – perhaps more in some pieces. 

Hi Todd - well, I do have Schiff on ECM, and Pietro De Maria's Chopin box - would like to hear him in Bach, which is available on Spotify, so will take a listen soon - now, I assume you don't do harpsichord?    Dave

[Todd]

...I assume you don't do harpsichord?

Very rarely in this repertoire.

[Mandryka]

I tried Rubsam's Partitas earlier this week.  I enjoy the sound of the instrument, but I feel that his playing is overly romanticized or eccentric.  I can't quite put my finger on it, but I feel that it was even more of an acquired taste than his recordings on Naxos.

It is like the counterpoint in Gesualdo Bk III or even parts of Bk IV -  that was the sort of music which inspired him to take such an unusual approach. I suppose contrapuntal Italian madrigals are an acquired taste too. But I do think he's right to think that keyboard players who are interested in early music  can get some ideas to explore from composers like  Marenzio and Luzzaschi and Gesualdo.

[DavidW]

I actually really like Gesualdo, but not expecting that with Bach.  You make me want to revisit Rubsam with that mindset.

[BWV 1080]

Ramin Bahrami - only piano on the list, everything I liked about Gould and nothing I hated about Gould

Christine Schornstein - clean, great time and tempos

Bob Van Asperen (the recent Netherlands Bach Society Youtubes, not his 90s recording) - idiomatic, authentic performances, swinging the 8ths like a beast (notes inegales, which everyone seems to ignore in Bach)

John Paul - Lautenwerck recording but not as affected as Rubsam

Keith Jarrett - who woulda thought a his 90s recording would be on par with the best HIP harpsichordists?

[atardecer]

Not sure about a top 5. Like many others I like Schiff on ECM. Schornsheim and Kenneth Gilbert are good on harpsichord. There are other versions I like and a lot of recordings I haven't listened to.

Lately I've been listening to some pieces from WTC Book I played here by Alexander Borovsky:
https://alexanderborovsky.bandcamp.com/album/the-well-tempered-clavier-j-s-bach-volume-1-bwv-846-857?fbclid=IwAR25FnKP1jJdgC5DXYO4NwIIu_D3UuzGw8qwnNswdpo9nqCHMpaACigrwrU