Bach - Italian Concerto, BWV 971

[andhow04]

the Italian Concerto is beloved by audience, not by Bach scholars, but it shows Bach was willing to venture into every corner of music to make his mark! here he re-invents the Vivaldi concerto to his own taste, and the result is grand in the first movement, hypnotic in the second, and brilliant in the third. i will always love italian concerto !

[elainemusic369]

Have always loved this concerto! Thanks for sharing!

[furtwaengler]

I’m noticing a theme...Godowsky’s Star Spangled Banner is loved by audiences, hated by pianists; Bach’s Italian Concerto is loved be audiences, hated by scholars, ha! Well, I’m no scholar and I quite like the piece, and you have an excellent way with Bach as I can remember with your Goldbergs some years ago. The slow movement is sublime, and you make a great moment out of it. The restraint in the tempo of the 1st along with meeting the grand conception you describe proves worthy as the last movement joyously bursts onto the scene.

I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but you strike me as a pianist version of the great conductor Jascha Horenstein for the very balanced roundness of both the structure and the moment. In the same way I’ve never been able to rightly analyze what it was that produces that effect in Horenstein’s recordings, I’m not sure I could analyze how you get the same remarkable balance except to say it seems to be a trait which comes very naturally to you. It’s a brilliant gift to say the least.

This all reminds me I have on my drive files of Prokofiev 2nd Sonata you recorded which I have never listened too. And to it I go!

[kalospiano]

gotta love that 3rd movement, best composition ever, and excellent performance as well

[andhow04]

I’m noticing a theme...Godowsky’s Star Spangled Banner is loved by audiences, hated by pianists; Bach’s Italian Concerto is loved be audiences, hated by scholars, ha! Well, I’m no scholar and I quite like the piece, and you have an excellent way with Bach as I can remember with your Goldbergs some years ago. The slow movement is sublime, and you make a great moment out of it. The restraint in the tempo of the 1st along with meeting the grand conception you describe proves worthy as the last movement joyously bursts onto the scene.

I don’t know if I’ve said this before, but you strike me as a pianist version of the great conductor Jascha Horenstein for the very balanced roundness of both the structure and the moment. In the same way I’ve never been able to rightly analyze what it was that produces that effect in Horenstein’s recordings, I’m not sure I could analyze how you get the same remarkable balance except to say it seems to be a trait which comes very naturally to you. It’s a brilliant gift to say the least.

This all reminds me I have on my drive files of Prokofiev 2nd Sonata you recorded which I have never listened too. And to it I go!

thanks for these kind and touching comments, i'm so glad you respond to my playing. it is indeed my goal to have a feeling of improvisation, but always true to the piece. messiaen put my thoughts to words and said "fantasy and research go hand in hand"
i can't remember when i put out the prokofiev 2nd sonata, i think it was maybe 5 years ago?! i love that piece though i am not sure audiences always get it. see, there it's in reverse - the pianist loves it, audiences not so sure!
thanks again