Following last year’s completion of his highly-praised Beethoven cycle András Schiff returns to Bach with a superb interpretation of the six “Partitas”, recorded live in September 2007 at Neumarkt Reitstadl one of the best piano music venues in Eurpoe. The cycle, which in 1731 was the first group of works to be published by Bach himself, represents a unique stylistic synthesis of the suite form with a particular emphasis on most varied and imaginative opening movements. In his 1802 biography of Bach, Nikolaus Forkel famously wrote that “such splendid compositions for the clavier had not been seen or heard before… so brilliant, harmonious, expressive and constantly novel are they.” Compared to his London studio recording of 1983 this second rendering on disc demonstrates Schiff’s stylistic development towards more freedom, sonic depth and sheer pleasure of phrasing. The rather unorthodox sequence of partitas – 5 – 3 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 6 – draws an ascending line of keys leading from G major to e minor.
Johann Sebastian Bach: Six Partitas
András Schiff
- CD 1
- Partita V in G major, BWV 829
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- 2Allemande04:16
- 3Corrente01:34
- 4Sarabande04:07
- 5Tempo di Minuetta02:23
- 6Passepied01:30
- 7Gigue03:45
- Partita III in a minor, BWV 827
- 8Fantasia01:50
- 9Allemande02:47
- 10Corrente02:40
- 11Sarabande03:14
- 12Burlesca02:00
- 13Scherzo00:59
- 14Gigue02:55
- Partita I in B-flat major, BWV 825
- 15Praeludium01:52
- 16Allemande03:09
- 17Corrente02:42
- 18Sarabande04:25
- 19Menuet I01:15
- 20Menuet II01:17
- 21Gigue02:10
- Partita II in c minor, BWV 826
- 22Sinfonia04:17
- 23Allemande04:31
- 24Courante02:05
- 25Sarabande03:01
- 26Rondeau01:27
- 27Capriccio03:18
- CD 2
- Partita IV in D major, BWV 828
- 1Ouverture05:50
- 2Allemande07:56
- 3Courante03:19
- 4Aria02:04
- 5Sarabande05:55
- 6Menuet01:20
- 7Gigue03:34
- Partita VI in e minor, BWV 830
- 8Toccata07:19
- 9Allemanda03:40
- 10Corrente04:47
- 11Air01:41
- 12Sarabande05:33
- 13Tempo di Gavotta01:57
- 14Gigue05:40
Following last year's completion of his highly-praised Beethoven cycle András Schiff returns to Bach with a superb interpretation of the six "Partitas". It was recorded live in September 2007 at Neumarkt Reitstadl, one of the best piano music venues in Europe. The cycle, which in 1731 was the first group of works to be published by Bach himself, represents a unique stylistic synthesis of the suite form with a particular emphasis on most varied and imaginative opening movements. In his 1802 biography of Bach, Nikolaus Forkel famously wrote that "such splendid compositions for the clavier had not been seen or heard before… so brilliant, harmonious, expressive and constantly novel are they."
Although his earlier Bach recordings are still available, this is Schiff’s new Bach: Compared to his London studio version of 1983 this second rendering of the Partitas on disc demonstrates Schiff's stylistic development towards more freedom, personal expression and sheer pleasure of phrasing. His playing on stage combines spontaneity and intellectual depth, ravishing sound with superb technical finish. In his personal note for the present recording Schiff writes: "Conducting the St. Matthew Passion and the B-minor Mass several times were experiences that have left an indelible mark on my piano performances: we frequently find dance movements in Bach's church music, and his instrumental works were often inspired by his sacred compositions."
The pianist’s rather unorthodox sequence of Partitas – 5 - 3 - 1 - 2 - 4 - 6 – draws an ascending line of keys leading from G major to e minor. It reflects a long experience with the pieces on stage. According to Schiff the Clavierübung “is designed to be at once enyclopaedic, scholarly and instructive. Nonetheless, the six partitas form an ideal, if long, concert program: Bach’s music succeeds over and over again in forging an intimate bond between performer and audience.”
YEAR | DATE | VENUE | LOCATION | |
2023 | September 29 | Opera City | Tokyo, Japan | |
2023 | October 01 | MUZA Hall | Kawasaki, Japan | |
2023 | October 03 | Arts Center | Seoul, South Korea | |
2023 | October 05 | Arts Center | Gyeong-gi, South Korea | |
2023 | October 11 | Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum | Prague, Czechia | |
2023 | October 12 | Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum | Prague, Czechia | |
2023 | October 13 | Dvorák Hall - Rudolfinum | Prague, Czechia | |
2023 | October 20 | Kursaal | Engelberg, Switzerland | |
2023 | October 21 | Kursaal | Engelberg, Switzerland | |
2023 | October 23 | Wigmore Hall | London, United Kingdom | |
2023 | October 25 | Wigmore Hall | London, United Kingdom | |
2023 | October 29 | Gewandhaus | Leipzig, Germany | |
2023 | October 30 | Alte Oper | Frankfurt, Germany | |
2023 | November 03 | Montcalm Palace | Quebec QC, Canada | |
2023 | November 05 | Koerner Hall | Toronto ON, Canada | |
2023 | November 08 | WPAS | Washington DC, United States | |
2023 | November 10 | NEC's Jordan Hall | Boston MA, United States | |
2023 | November 12 | Symphonie Center | Chicago IL, United States | |
2023 | November 14 | Kauffmann Center | Kansas City MI, United States | |
2023 | November 16 | Carnegie Hall | New York NY, United States | |
2023 | November 23 | tba | Bordeaux, France | |
2023 | November 28 | tba | Basel, Switzerland | |
2023 | December 04 | Tonhalle | Zurich, Switzerland | |
2023 | December 06 | tba | Lugano, Switzerland | |
2023 | December 08 | tba | Genf, Switzerland | |
2023 | December 10 | Casino | Bern, Switzerland | |
2023 | December 13 | Salzburger Marionettentheater | Salzburg, Austria | |
2023 | December 15 | tba | Ludwigshafen, Germany | |
2023 | December 17 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2023 | December 21 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2023 | December 23 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2023 | December 26 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2023 | December 28 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2023 | December 30 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2024 | January 02 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2024 | January 06 | Pierre Boulez Saal | Berlin, Germany | |
2024 | January 10 | Elbphilharmonie | Hamburg, Germany | |
2024 | February 01 | deSingel | Antwerp, Belgium | |
2024 | February 17 | Kulturpalast | Dresden, Germany | |
2024 | February 20 | Isarphilharmonie | Munich, Germany | |
2024 | February 21 | Liederhalle | Stuttgart, Germany | |
2024 | February 23 | deSingel | Antwerp, Belgium | |
2024 | February 25 | Konzerthaus | Dortmund, Germany | |
2024 | March 17 | Isarphilharmonie | Munich, Germany |