Angela Hewitt – Bach: Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, Aria Variata etc. (2004) MCH SACD ISO + Hi-Res FLAC

Angela Hewitt – Bach: Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, Aria Variata etc. (2004)
SACD ISO: 2,86 GB (Stereo + MCH DSD) | FLAC @ 24bit/88.2kHz: 1077 MB | Full Artwork | 3% Rec. Info
Label/Cat#: Hyperion Records # SACDA67499 | Country/Year: UK 2004
Genre: Classical | Style: Baroque

Review by James Leonard

At the best of times under the best of circumstances, Glenn Gould was compelling, but the rest of the time, he was just nuts. Nope, when it comes to the question of who the greatest Canadian Bach pianist is, the answer is Angela Hewitt, just like when it comes to the question of who the great living Bach pianist is, the answer is Angela Hewitt. In her series of recordings of the keyboard works of Bach for Hyperion, Hewitt’s brilliant virtuosity, lively intelligence, and deep musicianship have defined what it means to play Bach on the piano at the turn of the second millennium. Even in this the last volume of the series containing some of his least-known works, Hewitt is not playing “the last and the least” but, as she remarks in his notes, the best of the rest. While not the best known of Bach’s works, they are, at least in Hewitt’s hands, supreme works of musical craft and sublime works of spiritual beauty. From the pair of Fantasias and Fugues in A minor that open and close the program through the dolorous Variations alla Maniera Italiana to the exquisite pair of chorale preludes, Hewitt has assembled her program with taste and sensitivity. Hewitt’s performances here are as fine as those of the rest of her series, as serious, as witty, as virtuosic, as lucid, and as lovely as the rest of her Bach recordings. And Hyperion’s sound captures Hewitt’s performances in sound as clear and warm as the rest of their wonderful recordings.

A magnificent conclusion to a monumental cycle, Hewitt’s final Bach disc will appeal to anyone who loves life and Bach. allmusicguide

This is the last disc in Angela Hewitt’s extraordinary Bach cycle for Hyperion (besides this only the set of “English suites” is available on SACD). Because the pieces recorded here are not part of any series, like the toccatas or partitas, and are mostly relatively short it would be understandable if the prospective listener dismissed the disc as a miscellany of minor or unimportant scraps from the master’s workbench. It would also be a mistake. Hewitt makes the point in her notes that the pieces come from different stages in Bach’s career and demonstrate the enormous stylistic range of his keyboard works. My personal favorite is the relatively early Aria and Variations BWV989, a much shorter set than the famous “Goldbergs” but revealing several structural similarities. Throughout the recital Hewitt displays her comprehensive knowledge and mastery of baroque performance practice while nonetheless making a compelling case for performing Bach on the modern concert grand. Speaking of the piano, the instrument sounds fine, somewhat less aggressive than many Steinways, though I wish Hewitt’s Bach recordings had featured the Fazioli she plays on some of her later discs. The recorded sound (I listened to MC only) is very good. Timbres and dynamics are accurately rendered, though there is perhaps a touch more empty hall resonance than is ideal. sa-cd.net

Tracklist:

1 Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, BWV 904 – 1. Fantasia 3:37
2 Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, BWV 904 – 2. Fugue 4:22
3 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 01. Aria 2:15
4 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 02. Var. 1 1:20
5 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 03. Var. 2 1:19
6 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 04. Var. 3 1:24
7 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 05. Var. 4 1:05
8 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 06. Var. 5 1:30
9 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 07. Var. 6 1:57
10 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 08. Var. 7 0:55
11 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 09. Var. 8 0:48
12 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 10. Var. 9 1:00
13 Aria Variata Alla Maniera Italiana, BWV 989 – 11. Var. 10 2:43
14 Sonata In D, BWV 963 – 1. 2:36
15 Sonata In D, BWV 963 – 2. 1:08
16 Sonata In D, BWV 963 – 3. Fugue 2:13
17 Sonata In D, BWV 963 – 4. Adagio 1:02
18 Sonata In D, BWV 963 – 5. Thema All’ Imitatio Gallina Cuccu 1:53
19 Partie In A, BWV 832 – 1. Allemande 2:03
20 Partie In A, BWV 832 – 2. Air Pour Les Trompettes 2:31
21 Partie In A, BWV 832 – 3. Sarabande 1:46
22 Partie In A, BWV 832 – 4. Bourrée 1:04
23 Partie In A, BWV 832 – 5. Gigue 1:20
24 Suite In F Minor, BWV 823 – 1. Prélude 2:08
25 Suite In F Minor, BWV 823 – 2. Sarabande En Rondeau 4:15
26 Suite In F Minor, BWV 823 – 3. Gigue 2:02
27 Adagio In G, BWV 968 5:08
28 Fugue In C, BWV 953 1:22
29 Jesu, Meine Zuversicht, BWV 728 2:49
30 Wer Nur Den Lieben Gott Lässt Walten, BWV 691 2:14
31 Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, BWV 944 – 1. Fantasia 0:56
32 Fantasia & Fugue In A Minor, BWV 944 – 2. Fugue 4:54