Piotr Anderszewski - Bach: Partitas 1, 3 & 6 (2002)

Tracklist

01. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Toccata
02. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Allemande
03. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Courante
04. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Air
05. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Sarabande
06. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Tempo di gavotta
07. Partita No.6 in E minor, BWV 830: Gigue
08. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Fantasia
09. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Allemande
10. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Courante
11. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Sarabande
12. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Burlesca
13. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Scherzo
14. Partita No.3 in A minor, BWV 827: Gigue
15. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Praeludium
16. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Allemande
17. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Courante
18. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Sarabande
19. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Menuet I
20. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Menuet II
21. Partita No.1 in B flat major, BWV 825: Gigue

The flourish that begins the Sixth Partita's Toccata is a hint of things to come - this is Bach sounding easy without skimping on its monumentality. The following fugue is gently played but absolutely clear. Elsewhere, Piotr Anderszewski might remind you of Glenn Gould - his attacks on fugal entrances are sharp and purposefully noticeable--as in the fugue in the Gigue that ends the Partita No. 6. He embellishes the written score nicely in the Allemande of the First Partita, and just to hear him play the final Gigue from the Partita No. 1 is enough reason to buy this CD: the playing is fleet and spotless, the rhythm never flags. The effect is exhilarating. Throughout, Anderszewski's dynamic range is vast, with soft passages lolling us into relaxation and the grander moments truly being grand. This is a beautiful recording.

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