András Schiff - J.S. Bach: Two-Part Inventions, Three-Part Inventions (1985)

I have several installments of Andras Schiff’s series of JS Bach keyboard works done for London/Decca and, though I am pretty mixed about them taken as a whole, this version of the Two- and Three-Part Inventions is the best of the ones I own. Overall, Schiff’s traversal ranges from a good and successful set of English Suites down to a dull and bored-sounding set of French Suites and then a frankly unsuccessful set of Concerti for piano and orchestra. Schiff, a terrific pianist generally, experiences some uncharacteristic issues. At times, he sounds bored (French Suites) leaving me unconvinced the recording was done with any purpose other than his contract with the label; at other times, there is a lack of finesse and refinement (the Italian Concerto, the Concerto for keyboards).

The set of Inventions being reviewed here doesn’t suffer from any of these flaws – they are refined and musical and sound like Schiff is enjoying himself while playing them. The 2nd of the Three-Part Inventions is a sad, reflective piece in C minor and Schiff executes it with sensitivity and finesse, with a careful ear for the balance of the voices , with the upward and downward scale that Bach includes inserted into the texture with elegance. The next Invention, in D major, is completely different in feeling and Schiff makes it dance. Another notably successful interpretation is of the F minor Three-Part Invention where Schiff reproduces the composition’s sense of drama and foreboding, all done in a sort of miniaturized form in the stripped-down world of these Inventions, without the length and technical demands found elsewhere in Bach’s writing. My favorite Two-Part Invention, the 13th one in A minor, isn't done too quickly, as I think some performers tend to do, and is given an effective presentation, balancing the need to maintain forward momentum and the melancholic sensitivity of this wonderful little piece.

I have one alternative performance tip for the Three-Part Inventions, which is a live recording by Glenn Gould done during his groundbreaking visit to the Soviet Union in the 1950s. This is an overlooked but absolutely marvelous rendition of the Three-Part ones (doesn’t include the Two-Part). But for a version featuring all thirty of the Two- and Three-Part Inventions, I recommend this Schiff release. Helped by very good sound engineering, Schiff plays the music with affection, refinement and sensitivity. Recommended.