Schnabel Plays Bach

On this CD:

1. Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue for keyboard in D minor, BWV 903
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Artur Schnabel

2. Toccata for keyboard in C minor, BWV 911
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Artur Schnabel

3. Toccata for keyboard in D major, BWV 912
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by Artur Schnabel

4. Concerto for 2 harpsichords & strings in C major (or for 2 keyboards alone), BWV 1061
Composed by Johann Sebastian Bach
Performed by London Symphony Orchestra with Artur Schnabel, Karl Ulrich Schnabel
Conducted by Sir Adrian Boult

5. Invitation to the Dance, rondo brillant for piano, Op. 65 (J260)
Composed by Carl Maria von Weber

Tracks:

Con in C, BWV 1061:Allegro
Con in C, BWV 1061: Andante
Con in C, BWV 1061: Presto
Prelude & Fugue in D, (WTC Book I, #5) BWV 950, Con in F BWV 971
Prelude & Fugue in D, (WTC Book I, #5) BWV 950, Con in F BWV 971
Prelude & Fugue in D, (WTC Book I, #5) BWV 950, Con in F BWV 971: Allegro
Prelude & Fugue in D, (WTC Book I, #5) BWV 950, Con in F BWV 971: Andante
Prelude & Fugue in D, (WTC Book I, #5) BWV 950, Con in F BWV 971: Presto
Chromatic Fantasy And Fugue BWV 903
Chromatic Fantasy And Fugue BWV 903
Toccata in c BWV 911
Toccata in D BWV 912

Customer Reviews:

Schnabel Schnabel Schnabel;.......2002-06-25

Schnabel is well known for his interpretations of Beethoven and Brahms, but he certainly excelled beyond them. He himself adored these recordings and was really proud of them. I'm really fond of the WTC I fugue no.5 among others.

I wonder if he picked up any of his Bach nuances from his encounters with Brahms and Liechetsky?

Average customer rating:

Legendary Brahms 2nd Concerto Performance

Artur Schnabel Plays Bach & Brahms

Manufacturer: Pearl
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000000WUR
Release Date: 1993-01-04

Tracks:

Con in C, BWV 1061: I. First Movement - Artur Schnabel/Karl Ulrich Schnabel
Con in C, BWV 1061: II. Adagio Ovvero Largo - Artur Schnabel/Karl Ulrich Schnabel
Con in C, BWV 1061: III. Fuga - Artur Schnabel/Karl Ulrich Schnabel
Pno Con No.2 in B Flat, Op.83: I. Allegro Non Troppo - Artur Schnabel
Pno Con No.2 in B Flat, Op.83: II. Allegro Appassionato - Artur Schnabel
Pno Con No.2 in B Flat, Op.83: III. Andante - Artur Schnabel
Pno Con No.2 in B Flat, Op.83: IV. Allegro Grazioso - Artur Schnabel

Customer Reviews:

Legendary Brahms 2nd Concerto Performance.......1998-11-28

This is the third format that I have of this performance: tape from 78's that I edited, the French HMV COLH performance and now the Pearl. The Pearl has cleaned up some of the noise and made an all ready outstanding performance better but the sound could still be improved as EMI managed to do with the Beethoven Sonatas.

Schnabel had a way of clustering passages and that is apparant through out this work. His performance is well backed by Boult and the LSO with the final moments of the 2nd movement being a prime example. Here Schnabel rushes towards the end of the movement with the orchestra keeping up with him. One has to wonder if this was just the way Schnabel wanted to perform this part of the movement or if time was running out on the 78 RPM master?

This was a work that was part of Schnabel's repetoire. He performed it any number of times with this recording giving us an idea of what those live performances must have been like. He sometimes clusters his passages and appears to be rushing but everything is clearly heard. Tempi can also be brisk at times particularly in the 2nd movement. Brahms wants this movement to be "Allegro Appassionato". Schnabel does just that even at the tempo he selects.

If you are looking for a Romantic performance this might not be your choice. Schnabel does show some emotion but he never over does it. (For a contrast the Zimerman/Bernstein recording is an example of over indulgence of Romaniticizing). The third movement is well done with a good balance between the cello soloist and pianist.

One must also remember that this was - for all practical purposes - a live performance with its good and bad points. The good points include the fact that what you hear is what was played. The bad points are that a dropped note or two by soloists or orchestral players are going to happen but so what! This is music, not a spliced together attempt to re-create what passes as a "picture perfect performance".

The Bach is most enjoyable with son, Karl Ulrich. Listen to the third movement and how well father and son worked together. The orchestra is a little heavy on the bass. In comparison with the tape of original 78's I can not recall that they had the same problem.