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Track(s) taken from CDA67499

Fugue in C major, BWV953

composer

Angela Hewitt (piano)
Recording details: February 2004
Henry Wood Hall, London, United Kingdom
Produced by Ludger Böckenhoff
Engineered by Ludger Böckenhoff
Release date: July 2004
Total duration: 1 minutes 22 seconds
 

Reviews

‘A series of performances where freedom over articulation, phrasing, embellishment, dynamics and tempo is governed by an artistic sense of responsibility; and the whole recital is heard in a shrewdly balanced recording of fine tonal verisimilitude’ (Gramophone)

‘When Hewitt's technical refinement merges with the spirit as well as the letter of the music, miracles happen’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Here is another out and out winner from Angela Hewitt … the hallmark of her playing derives from just such a sharp definition of musical character. Be it light or solemn, her outlook on Bach is consistently enlivening’ (The Daily Telegraph)

‘This disc makes a piquant, unexpected conclusion to Hewitt's Bach cycle. Her many admirers will want to acquire it’ (International Record Review)

‘Hewitt plays all of this unfamiliar material with her usual flair and beguiling sound’ (The Sunday Times)

‘Hewitt's playing is tremendously well thought-out, the contrapuntal lines always shining clear, the articulation sprightly and the musicality unfailing’ (Classic FM Magazine)

‘The statuesque, beautiful, and brilliantly gifted Angela Hewitt has now joined the ranks of the great interpreters of Bach's keyboard music, and the effortless and natural readings on this and the other CDs in her cycle for Hyperion unquestionably number among the finest available. After discussion, debate—call it what you will—Angela Hewitt's recordings may be deemed unquestionably definitive’ (Fanfare, USA)

‘Angela Hewitt continues to confirm her status among pre-eminent Bach specialists … the individual pieces and Suites consitently reward the ear—novel and timeless at once’ (Audiophile Audition, USA)

‘She continues to display the virtues that have made her one of the foremost Bach pianists on record, including beautiful tone, textural clarity, acute sensitivity to patterns of tension and resolution, a strong sense of dance, and refined attention to detail … In sum, a beautiful, profoundly satisfying recital and a fitting conclusion to a landmark series’ (Goldberg)

‘Hewitt has already exhausted the supply of critical superlatives in her devotion to Bach. Those who have loyally followed the Hyperion cycle will find that this terminal issue meets and exceeds the stringent standards which she set for herself. Hewitt presents a Bach of sensitivity and integrity for our time and always. Enjoyment of the disc is enhanced by the performer's lively and informative booklet note. Conventional CD sound quality is in the demonstration class. SACD playback (stereo is preferable to multi-channel) is as close as most of us will ever get to having Miss Hewitt and her concert Steinway perform in our listening rooms’ (The Scene Musicale, Canada)
The Fugue in C major, BWV953 is to be found in the Notebook for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach which also contains the first drafts of the Inventions, Sinfonias, and eleven of the Preludes from Book I of The Well-Tempered Clavier. The main point of interest here is its resemblance to the C major Fugue in Book II of the ‘48’ – also in three parts, also largely made up of running semiquavers, and in the same joyous mood.

from notes by Angela Hewitt © 2004

La Fugue en ut majeur, BWV953 figure dans le Recueil de Wilhelm Friedemann Bach qui contient aussi les premières esquisses des Inventions, Sinfonias et onze des Préludes du Livre I du Clavier bien tempéré. Le principal intérêt réside dans sa ressemblance avec la Fugue en ut majeur du Livre II du Clavier bien tempéré – également conçue à trois voix autour de traits de doubles croches et d’une humeur également joyeuse.

extrait des notes rédigées par Angela Hewitt © 2004
Français: Isabelle Battioni

Das Fuge in C-Dur, BWV953 ist notiert in dem Clavier-Büchlein für Wilhelm Friedemann Bach, in dem auch die ersten Entwürfe der Inventionen, Sinfonien sowie elf Präludien aus dem ersten Teil des Wohltemperierten Klaviers aufgezeichnet sind. Am interessantesten ist die Ähnlichkeit zu der C-Dur Fuge aus dem zweiten Teil des Wohltemperierten Klaviers: beide sind dreiteilig, bestehen hauptsächlich aus laufenden Sechzehnteln und beide haben eine heitere Atmosphäre.

aus dem Begleittext von Angela Hewitt © 2004
Deutsch: Viola Scheffel

Other albums featuring this work

Bach: Angela Hewitt plays Bach
CDS44421/3516CDs Boxed set (at a special price)
Bach: Fantasia, Aria & other works
This album is not yet available for downloadSACDA67499Super-Audio CD — Deleted
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