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Pierce Drew wrote (September 21, 2003):
Several months ago I sent out a message asking is anyone was familiar with Robert Woolley's 1998 recording of the Partitas (on a copy of a Mietke harpsichord)(Label: Chandos Chaconne), but no one responded. The recording, strangely enough, never appears to have been reviewed by Gramophone.
But since I cannot seem to get enough of good harpsichord redentions of these works (Pinnock I & II, Suzuki, Verlet I & II, Rousset, Parmentier, Ross, Gilbert), I decided to buy it, particularly since it is available at Berkshire Record Outlet for only $11.98.
I was not disappointed. I think is it a wonderfully lucid recording and am surprised to not have encountered any critical acclaim for it. The recording level seems a bit low compared to other harpsichord recordings (but, hey, that's what the volume control is for.
I have enjoyed Woolley's work with the Purcell Quartet, and find that this recording maintains the same high standard (as, for instance, in their brilliant Trio Sonatas recording). It is perhaps one of the most measured (yet engaging) and unclaustrophobic, uncrowded readings of the Partitas that I have encountered. The notes have space to breath, and I can hear elements in the music that I overlooked before.
So, if you are working on a shopping "cart" over at Berkshire, add the Woolley Partitas -- highly recommended!!! Also, there are a number of excellent 1990's Musica Antiqua Koln recordings on sale (e.g.,
Hasse, Veracini, Biber). |
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David Glenn Lebut Jr. wrote (September 22, 2003):
[To Pierce Drew] I would also recommend Leonhardt's recording of the works as well. I have heard and ownedit, and I find his rendering of the Partiten to be far better than Verlet's. I would also (if you want a complete recording) recommend his recording of the Klavieruebung zweiter Teil for his recording of BWV 831 (that was the 1 drawback of Leonhardt's recording as opposed to Verlet's, which includes all 7 Partiten). |
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Laurent Planchon wrote (September 22, 2003):
David Glenn Lebut Jr. wrote:
< I would also recommend Leonhardt's recording of the works as well. I have heard and ownedit, and I find his rendering of the Partiten to be far better than Verlet's. >
Which one by Verlet are you refering to ? She recorded them twice.Kenneth Weiss's recording is also very good. Check it out it is now available in the US. |
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Peter Bright wrote (September 22, 2003):
[To Laurent Planchon] Has anyone heard the Emerson String Quartet's take on the Art of Fugue - released in August or September of this year. There are some samples at: http://www.cduniverse.com/productinfo.asp?PID=6114666&frm=sh_google
The sound is very clean and precise, although they do use vibrato. But, it sounds quite interesting. Sorry if I missed this but I can't remember it being mentioned before... |
