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Ten years ago Angela Hewitt recorded a version of The Well-Tempered Clavier Book I which dazzled the critical world and record-buying public. It was followed shortly afterwards by Book II which was similarly received. Now, fresh from her Bach World Tour—in which she performed the complete Well-Tempered Clavier from August 2007 until the end of October 2008 in 58 cities in 21 countries on six continents—Angela has made an entirely new recording of this most iconic of keyboard works.
In a revealing and personal programme note, Angela explains her reasons, both artistic and emotional, for this momentous creative decision. She speaks of the ‘new-found freedom’ that she discovered in her later performances, and especially her use of Fazioli pianos, ‘whose luminous, powerful, and also ever so delicate sounds opened new worlds to me and allowed my imagination to take flight’.
This is an unmissable new release.
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #1 In C, BWV 846
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #1 In C, BWV 846
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #2 In C Minor, BWV 847
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #2 In C Minor, BWV 847
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #3 In C Sharp, BWV 848
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #3 In C Sharp, BWV 848
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #4 In C Sharp Minor, BWV 849
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #4 In C Sharp Minor, BWV 849
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #5 In D, BWV 850
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #5 In D, BWV 850
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #6 In D Minor, BWV 851
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #6 In D Minor, BWV 851
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #7 In E Flat, BWV 852
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #7 In E Flat, BWV 852
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #8 In E Flat Minor, BWV 853
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #8 In D Sharp Minor, BWV 853
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #9 In E, BWV 854
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #9 In E, BWV 854
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #10 In E Minor, BWV 855
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #10 In E Minor, BWV 855
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #11 In F, BWV 856
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #11 In F, BWV 856
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #12 In F Minor, BWV 857
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #12 In F Minor, BWV 857
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #13 In F Sharp, BWV 858
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #13 In F Sharp, BWV 858
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #14 In F Sharp Minor, BWV 859
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #14 In F Sharp Minor, BWV 859
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #15 In G, BWV 860
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #15 In G, BWV 860
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #16 In G Minor, BWV 861
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #16 In G Minor, BWV 861
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #17 In A Flat, BWV 862
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #17 In A Flat, BWV 862
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #18 In G Sharp Minor, BWV 863
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #18 In G Sharp Minor, BWV 863
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #19 In A, BWV 864
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #19 In A, BWV 864
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #20 In A Minor, BWV 865
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #20 In A Minor, BWV 865
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #21 In B Flat, BWV 866
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #21 In B Flat, BWV 866
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #22 In B Flat Minor, BWV 867
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #22 In B Flat Minor, BWV 867
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #23 In B, BWV 868
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #23 In B, BWV 868
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #24 In B Minor, BWV 869
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Fugue #24 In B Minor, BWV 869
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #1 In C, BWV 870
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #1 In C, BWV 870
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #2 In C Minor, BWV 871
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #2 In C Minor, BWV 871
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #3 In C Sharp, BWV 872
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #3 In C Sharp, BWV 872
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #4 In C Sharp Minor, BWV 873
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #4 In C Sharp Minor, BWV 873
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #5 In D, BWV 874
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #5 In D, BWV 874
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #6 In D Minor, BWV 875
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #6 In D Minor, BWV 875
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #7 In E Flat, BWV 876
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #7 In E Flat, BWV 876
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #8 In D Sharp Minor, BWV 877
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #8 In D Sharp Minor, BWV 877
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #9 In E, BWV 878
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #9 In E, BWV 878
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #10 In E Minor, BWV 879
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #10 In E Minor, BWV 879
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #11 In F, BWV 880
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #11 In F, BWV 880
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #12 In F Minor, BWV 881
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #12 In F Minor, BWV 881
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #13 In F Sharp, BWV 882
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #13 In F Sharp, BWV 882
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #14 In F Sharp Minor, BWV 883
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #14 In F Sharp Minor, BWV 883
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #15 In G, BWV 884
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #15 In G, BWV 884
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #16 In G Minor, BWV 885
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #16 In G Minor, BWV 885
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #17 In A Flat, BWV 886
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #17 In A Flat, BWV 886
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #18 In G Sharp Minor, BWV 887
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #18 In G Sharp Minor, BWV 887
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #19 In A, BWV 888
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #19 In A, BWV 888
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #20 In A Minor, BWV 889
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #20 In A Minor, BWV 889
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #21 In B Flat, BWV 890
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #21 In B Flat, BWV 890
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #22 In B Flat Minor, BWV 891
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #22 In B Flat Minor, BWV 891
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #23 In B, BWV 892
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #23 In B, BWV 892
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Prelude #24 In B Minor, BWV 893
Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2 - Fugue #24 In B Minor, BWV 893
April 2009
*****
“Hewitt…take full advantage of the piano's potential, including its middle (sostenuto) pedal; for that mighty tonic pedal below the final harmonies of Fugue in A minor. Her quiet sustained tone is as silky and restrained as a clavichord; the opening of the first Prelude is breathtaking, creating a sense of embarking on a sustained pilgrimage throughout the whole set.”
June 2009
“Listening to Angela Hewitt's latest thoughts on Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier alongside her late-1990s Hyperion cycle (11/98, 7/99), it appears that her interpretations haven't changed so much as evolved, intensified and, most important, internalised. Perhaps one could pigeonhole Hewitt I as characterised by dance, while Hewitt II mainly celebrates song. While both versions hold equal validity and stature, Hewitt's remake ultimately digs deeper, with more personalised poetry.”
3rd May 2009
*****
“As ever with Hewitt, the joie de vivre she finds in this music remains exhilarating. Even if you own her old set, this new one cries out to be heard.”
17th April 2009
*****
“What shines through her playing most of all is a sovereign control of touch, texture and dynamic, so that every line is perfectly characterised and distinct. This is by no means the only approach to playing Bach's masterpiece on a piano, as the historic, equally valid recordings by artists as contrasting as Edwin Fischer, Glenn Gould and Sviatoslav Richter demonstrate, but it's a measure of Hewitt's achievement that she invites comparison with pianists as great as those.”
16th April 2009
*****
“Angela Hewitt's Bach has long been a thing of wonder...Her palette of colours is judiciously chosen, her variety of touch and dynamics gauged so that each prelude and fugue has a character of its own and contributes something special to Bach's iridescent kaleidoscope of musical invention.”
“Fresh from her Bach World Tour - in which she performed the work in 58 cities in 21 countries on six continents - she has gone back into the studio (actually the Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin) and made a new recording of this landmark work for keyboard...The result is a precious document, which draws upon her development as a person and a performer over the past 10 years. Playing of this ease and assurance rarely has such a profound understanding of the material. This is no mechanical journey through the cycle of keys. This is life itself.”
27th March 2009
*****
“The 2009 Hewitt — protean, humane, modern but respectful, beautifully recorded — was the version to live with. It would even sound good, I’m sure, on the BBC’s desert island.”
2010
“Listening to Angela Hewitt's latest thoughts on Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier alongside her late- 1990s Hyperion cycle (reviewed below), it appears that her interpretations haven't changed so much as evolved, intensified and, most important, internalised. This perception is enhanced by a closer sonic image, plus the leaner, more timbrally diverse qualities of Hewitt's Fazioli concert grand that contrast with her earlier recording's mellower, more uniform Steinway. Yet one readily credits Hewitt's pianistic prowess for more acutely differentiated legato and detached articulation this time around, together with a wider range of melodic inflection. This adds considerable textural dimension to fugues whose close counterpoint is extremely difficult to voice and clarify. Hewitt's uncommonly brisk and elegantly poised G sharp minor Book 2 Fugue has acquired conversational light and shade. Rubati hinted at earlier re-emerge in fuller, more purposeful bloom: compare both readings of the E flat major Book 1 Prelude and the E major Book 2 Fugue, for example. Perhaps one could pigeonhole Hewitt I as characterised by dance, while Hewitt II mainly celebrates song. While both versions hold equal validity and stature, Hewitt's remake ultimately digs deeper, with more personalised poetry. Perhaps she'll revisit the Goldberg Variations next?”
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Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 - Prelude #1 In C, BWV 846
