Bach's Italian Concerto - Tempo

[lmpianist]

What would you say is a suitable tempo for each of the three movements of the Italian Concerto?  Or, if you prefer, a range of tempi that you'd expect to hear at a typical performance on a modern piano.  Maybe this is too open-ended a question, but thanks in advance for any advice.

[j_menz]

Why not just look at a few performances on YT and see what is done; then pick something which is what you feel is most effective.

[andhow04]

the second movement is andante, which really means not too slow. the third movement is presto and cut time and has to move at a fast clip, but not so fast that the people can't hear the specific and subtle dynamics that bach himself wrote...

the first movement does not have a tempo marking, that means we have to go off the meter and the note values. it's a square four with the occasional 32nd note (but only as ornamentation) and really should not be very fast.  in fact allegro i think would be too fast for this movement. it should rather have something grand and festive about it...
here's the link to my verison:

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php?topic=46572.0

[emrysmerlin]

Actually playing the 3rd movement at presto would ruin it. It is better to take it at a slower tempo while being more articulate. A 4:20 performance would be good.

[quantum]

If you are playing all movements as a set, you should consider the relative tempos how each movement relates to one another.  IMO, this is more important than choosing the "correct" tempo for "andante" or "presto".  Such "andante" or "presto" would be more effective if they were perceived as such relative to the opposing movements. 

[werq34ac]

Just a note about andante. I'm told that it's literal meaning is "going" as opposed to "moderately slow" as we are taught.