Bach - Alexandre Tharaud - Audio CD (Arrives in 50 days)

Devoting a solo album entirely to Bach, Alexandre Tharaud has turned to music originally conceived for the keyboard – including the Suite for Keyboard in A minor BWV 818a – and to transcriptions for piano of music written for lute, flute, accompanied solo voice, orchestra and choir.

“The piano is a magical instrument that can imitate other instruments,” says Tharaud. “From when I was very young I’ve loved being able to conjure up 80 musicians with my fingers, to imitate the sounds of the harp, the string and wind instruments, the percussion section, the organ, and of course the harpsichord in baroque music – while also embracing the possibilities of the modern piano.”

Among the eight transcriptions made by Tharaud himself is a version of ‘Herr, unser Herrscher’, the powerful chorus that opens the St John Passion. Another is his adaptation of the serene Air from the Orchestral Suite No 3 in D, widely known as ‘Air on the G string’. Concluding the album is the most famous reimagining of a Bach keyboard piece: Gounod’s Méditation – otherwise known as ‘Ave Maria’ – which sets a soaring melody over the rippling Prelude in C from Book 1 of The Well-Tempered Clavier. As Gramophone wrote when Tharaud released an Erato album of Bach keyboard concertos: “What comes across irresistibly in this new recording is the physical pleasure of playing Bach on a piano.”

Tracklist

1. J. S. Bach: Keyboard Concerto, Bwv 974 - Ii. Adagio (After Marcello's Oboe Concerto In D Minor)
2. Lute Suite In E Minor, Bwv 996 - V. Bourree (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
3. Johannes-Passion, Bwv 245, Pt.1 - No. 1, Chor. 'Herr Unser Herrscher (Transcr. Tharaud Piano)
4. Flute Sonata In E-Flat Major, Bwv 1031 - Ii. Siciliano (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
5. Suite In a Minor 818a I. Prelude
6. Ii. Sarabande
7. Iii. Menuet
8. Iv. Courante
9. V. Allemande
10. Vi. Gigue
11. Matthaus-Passion, Bwv 244, Pt. 2 - No. 49, Aria. 'Aus Liebe Will Mein Heiland Sterben' (Transcr.)
12. Orchestral Suite No. 3 In D Major, Bwv 1068 - Ii. Air (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
13. Fantasia and Fugue In C Minor, Bwv 906: Fantasia (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
14. J. S. Bach / Antonio Vivaldi: Organ Concerto In D Minor, Bwv 596 - Iii. Largo E Spiccato 'Siciliano'
15. J. S. Bach: Prelude For Lute In C Minor, Bwv 999 (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
16. Lute Suite In E Minor Bwv 996 (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano) I. Prelude
17. Ii. Sarabande
18. Iii. Allemande
19. Vi. Gigue
20. Prelude In C Major, Bwv 924
21. Prelude In D Minor, Bwv 926
22. Matthaus-Passion, Bwv 244, Pt. 1 - No. 15, Choral. 'Erkenne Mich, Mein Huter' (Transcr.)
23. Flute Partita In a Minor, Bwv 1013 - I. Allemande (Transcr. Tharaud For Piano)
24. Nun Ruhen Alle Walder, Bwv 392 (Transcr. Wiener For Piano)
25. J. S. Bach & Charles Gounod: Ave Maria (After Bach's Prelude No. 1 In C Major, Bwv 846)

Label: Plg Uk Catalog | Origin: Holland