SPONSORED: CD Spotlight. Masterful Handling - Volume 3 of James Brawn's Beethoven, praised by Andrew Schartmann.
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PROVOCATIVE THOUGHTS:
The late Patric Standford may have written these short pieces deliberately to provoke our feedback. If so, his success is reflected in the rich range of readers' comments appearing at the foot of most of the pages.
CD Spotlight. What to do with Bach? - Patrick Maxwell listens to the 'Goldberg Variations' on the accordion. 'Telari plays with an alluring sensitivity ...'
Ensemble. Great Impetus - J S Bach, Bernstein and Beethoven from Angela Hewitt, Yutaka Sado and the Vienna Tonkünstler Orchestra, heard by Mike Wheeler
Ensemble. Well Thought-out - Reiko Fujisawa plays Bach's Goldberg Variations, reviewed by Mike Wheeler
An Enthralling Performance - Ji Liu plays Bach's Goldberg Variations, heard by Mike Wheeler
CD Spotlight. No Faulting - Bach arrangements for string trio, heard by Howard Smith. '... their adroit three-part Baroque 'dovetailing' never lapsed ...'
CD Spotlight. Revealing Bach - The Goldberg Variations and The Art of Fugue, heard by George Balcombe. '... musical richness and instrumental knowledge ...'
CD Spotlight. Robust and Spirited - James Tibbles plays J S Bach, heard by Howard Smith. '... worthy of widespread international recognition.'
Marvelously Gifted - Bill Newman listens to pianist Alexander Romanovsky
Music for Musicians Only? - The public turns a deaf ear to improvised music. As for classical music, Jan Dahlstedt claims that having abandoned improvisation, classical music entered a sidetrack from which it has never escaped, thus badly stifling creative progress. If he is guilty of heresy or may have a point, read on and judge for yourself.
Record Box. Utmost Subtlety - Seung-Un Ha plays Bach's Goldberg Variations, reviewed by Robert Anderson
Record Box. A Theoretician's Knowledge - Andrew Violette's Sonata for unaccompanied violin, reviewed by Howard Smith
Record Box. Playful Scope - Marc-André Hamelin's Chopin delights Robert Anderson
Record Box. Sympathetic Readings - Orchestral music by Barbara Harbach, reviewed by Patric Standford
CD Spotlight. Integrity and musicianship - Haskell Small plays Bach and Small, appreciated by Roderic Dunnett
CD Spotlight. Unassuming virtuosity - András Schiff plays Bach's 'Goldberg Variations', enjoyed by Patric Standford. '... impressive and enviable effortlessness ...'
In the presence of greatness - David Thompson is impressed by Angela Hewitt's playing of Bach, Couperin and Ravel at London's South Bank International Piano Series