Walter Gieseking’s Bach interpretations have long been celebrated and are still praised as being modern and contemporary. His legendary 1950 broadcasts, later released on the Heliodor label, included many of Bach’s important works such as The Well-Tempered Clavier, Partitas and Inventions. For the first time, Deutsche Grammophon presents all these recordings, newly remastered, in one original jackets collection. A 7-CD original-jackets collection, newly remastered presenting all of Walter Gieseking’s 1950 Bach broadcasts for Radio Saarbrücken.
Glenn Herbert Gould (25 September 1932 – 4 October 1982) was a Canadian pianist who became one of the best-known and most celebrated classical pianists of the 20th century. He was particularly renowned as an interpreter of the keyboard music of Johann Sebastian Bach. His playing was distinguished by remarkable technical proficiency and capacity to articulate the polyphonic texture of Bach's music…
The Brazilian pianist, Jean Louis Steuerman, was born in into a musical family. He began his studies at the age of four and made his debut with the Brazilian Symphony Orchestra when he was just fourteen (Rio de Janero, September 15, 1963). He first came to Europe after winning a scholarship to the Naples Conservatory in 1967. In 1972 he won the 2nd Prize at the J.S. Bach Competition in Leipzig and quickly gained recognition throughout Europe as a soloist and recitalist.
Sir András Schiff is world-renowned as a pianist, conductor, pedagogue and lecturer. He brings masterful and intellectual insights to his performances, which have inspired audiences and critics alike. Born in Budapest, Hungary, in 1953, Sir András studied piano at the Liszt Ferenc Academy with Pal Kadosa, György Kurtág, and Ferenc Rados; and in London with George Malcom.
With these words begins the first written cello method, authored by Michel Corrette and published in Paris around 1741: the cello, a bass instrument, is considered a “noble pillar of harmony”. At that time, music history was roughly in the middle of the basso continuo era, which began during Monteverdi’s lifetime with the “Seconda Pratica” and ended during Robert Schumann’s lifespan. A lot revolved around the melody of the bass line, its realisation and rendering. In Corelli’s orchestra, a large bass section comprising many instruments of different sizes, with several cellos, double basses, lutes and harpsichords, was placed just behind the concertino. Behind them were the intermediate voices, first and second violas. Only behind the latter were those who carried the melody of the upper voices, namely the violinists. Such a setting has nothing to do with today’s musical practice and sound expectations. The vast bass section determined the tempo, the character and the dynamics. Those providing the melody had to adapt; any resistance would have been pointless.
Angela Hewitt is a highly esteemed pianist, particularly noted as a Bach performer, but accomplished in an exceptionally large repertory that embraces all eras of keyboard music. The daughter of an organist, Hewitt began to study piano at age three, making a public debut at the age of four, winning a scholarship at six, and eventually adding studies in ballet, singing, violin, and recorder.