Johann Sebastian Bach - Piano Transcriptions Vol. 10 - Saint-Saëns & Philipp (Nadejda Vlaeva)

Information

Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach

1. Ouverture (Movement 1 of Wir danken dir, Gott, wir danken dir, BWV 29) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
2. Adagio (No. 1, Coro (Choral) from Ach Gott, wie manches Herzeleid, BWV 3) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
3. Andantino (No. 1, Coro of Liebster Gott, wenn werd ich sterben?, BWV 8) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
4. Bourrée (Movement 7 of Partita No. 1 in B minor, BWV 1002) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
5. Andante (Movement 3 of Sonata No. 2 in A minor, BWV 1003) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
6. Presto (Part 2 No. 5 of Geist und Seele wird verwirret, BWV 35) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
7. Concerto in A minor, RV 522, BWV 593 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Allegro maestoso
8. Concerto in A minor, RV 522, BWV 593 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Adagio
9. Concerto in A minor, RV 522, BWV 593 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Allegro
10. Introduction et Air (Movement 1 of Denn du wirst meine Seele nicht in der Hölle lassen, BWV 15) (Johann Ludwig Bach, arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
11. Fugue (Movement 2 of Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
12. Largo (Movement 3 of Sonata No. 3 in C major, BWV 1005) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
13. Récitatif et Air (Part 1 Nos. 4 & 5, Recitativo - Aria of Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
14. Gavotte (Movement 3 of Partita No. 3 in E major, BWV 1006) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
15. Air (Part 2 No. 7, Aria from Schwingt freudig euch empor, BWV 36) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
16. Chœur (Part 2 No. 12, Coro of Freue dich, erlöste Schar, BWV 30) (arr. Camille Saint-Saëns)
17. Concerto in D minor, RV 565, BWV 596 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Molto tranquillo - Fuga: Moderato
18. Concerto in D minor, RV 565, BWV 596 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Largo e spiccato
19. Concerto in D minor, RV 565, BWV 596 (Antonio Vivaldi, arr. J.S. Bach & Isidore Philipp): Allegro non troppo

Nadejda Vlaeva, piano
Date: 2011
Label: Hyperion
http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/dc.asp?dc=D_CDA67873

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Review

Tenth Bach transcriptions disc offers Saint-Saëns’s handiwork 

 As we enter double figures in Hyperion’s distinguished series of transcriptions of Bach for piano, we are reminded of how the unknown cantata oeuvre was drip-fed to composers who subscribed to the Bach-Gesellschaft. This ambitious publication started with cantatas BWV1-10 in 1851 and, as Nigel Simeone reminds us in his compelling essay, the 100th wasn’t reached until 24 years later. That the first 10 published works luckily contain such brilliance and diversity could only have accelerated Bach’s reputation and enabled the choral works – St Matthew Passion aside – to be widely disseminated.

Since the art of transcription often represents something between awakening and homage, Nadejda Vlaeva offers through Bach another dimension to Saint-Saëns, that seemingly inexhaustible Renaissance man. His choice of the Sinfonia from BWV29 may not surprise but to enter into the dramatic, heady and image-laden rhetorical worlds of BWV3 and 8 is a testament to the composer’s profound realisation of Bach’s cantatas as the solar plexus of his work. In this regard, Saint-Saëns was a discerning pioneer.

As a protégée of Lazar Berman, Vlaeva rarely disappoints in matters of accomplished pianism, with plenty of that epic physical presence of her mentor, most obvious in the full-blooded and knotty heroics of Isidore Philipp’s transcription of Bach’s own tinkering with Vivaldi. The soft poetics of chiming funeral bells in the opening movement of BWV8 are exquisitely poised and the voicings in the reborn solo violin works generously yielding yet never sentimental. Vlaeva relishes the arranger’s lucid classicism in conveying the essence of Bach’s singular voice.

During this series, one recalls the devilish and often highly personal techniques of Rummel, Reger, Feinberg and Siloti. BWV35 is a rare moment of Vlaeva caught in the headlights rather too often but this young pianist sits worthily alongside the clutch of fine players who have illuminated this brilliant literature of Bachiana. What else has Hyperion up its sleeve?

-- Jonathan Freeman-Attwood, Gramophone

More reviews:
http://www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2011/Nov11/bach_transcriptions_saint%20saens_CDA67873.htm
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=612366
https://www.amazon.com/Bach-J-S-Piano-Transcriptions-Vol-10/dp/B005CCJRYG

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Johann Sebastian Bach (31 March [O.S. 21 March] 1685 – 28 July 1750) was a German composer and musician of the Baroque period. Bach enriched established German styles through his mastery of counterpoint, harmonic and motivic organisation, and his adaptation of rhythms, forms, and textures from Italy and France. He is known for instrumental compositions such as the Brandenburg Concertos and the Goldberg Variations, and vocal music such as the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor. Since the 19th-century Bach Revival he has been generally regarded as one of the greatest composers of all time.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johann_Sebastian_Bach

***

Nadejda Vlaeva was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, and began playing the piano at the age of five. She studied with Anton Dikov, Jan Wijn, Ruth Laredo and Lazar Berman, whom she considers her mentor. Vlaeva has performed internationally, giving solo recitals and concerto performances throughout Europe and North America. Among her major awards are First Prize at the Liszt competition in Lucca, Italy and Third Prize at the International Liszt Competition in Budapest. Vlaeva has recorded six internationally released CDs with critical acclaim. She currently resides in New York and is a Yamaha Artist.

http://www.hyperion-records.co.uk/a.asp?a=A2159

http://www.nadejdavlaeva.com/

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

FLAC, tracks

Links in comment

Enjoy!