Rosalyn Tureck plays Bach

Recorded live at private concerts in William F. Buckley's home, these superb performances show Rosalyn Tureck's virtues at their most incandescent: her pinpointed voice-leading, ultra-independent fingers, and ability to project a wide array of color with very little pedal. One can listen to these readings over and over again without hearing the same thing twice. --Jed Distler Amazon.com

Desert Island Disc

Rosalyn Tureck makes such a compelling case for this music to be played on the piano. She devoted herself to performing Bach's music, and completely re-vamped her technique once she made the decision to specialize in his music. She has an extraordinary touch, and the music comes alive in her hands.

I agree with the other reviewer who prefers this recording to the one offered in the Great Pianists series. These recordings seem to have been made in her home to a small audience of friends and admirers. We share in their enthusiastic support and applause at the end of the disc. I regard the intimacy and home-made quality of the recording as an advantage. The recorded sound is not at all a distraction.

For a modern recording with peerless sound quality, the offering by Andrew Rangell had almost as much of a musical impact on me and is certainly worth a listen. Martha Argerich also delivers a tour-de-force performance of the 2nd Partita (also worth owning). This recording, however, remains my standard for these pieces. June 26, 2007

Sublime distinction, high caliber tune, unequaled expression!

When Rosalyn Tureck plays Bach, you are be invited to an overwhelming event because of the fact, her musical imagination, unique sound and exalting pianism makes of her stylized Bach a true cosmic experience.

Her performance of the Partita No.1 is absolutely revealing. Most of pianists play it with extreme tenderness, but she does it so organically, producing a natural sound and at the same time, loaded of profundity and no time noblesse, as she was exploring new universes.

Has there been any performer capable to play better than her the Partita No. 2 ? Please, be my guest in case you find about any other.

Her austerity is far to be synonymous of coldness, thereby you may listen a prodigious, ethereal and even mystic Bach with such pureness and genuineness as probably you have not listened before.

This is one of the finest historical documents in the whole story of the disc, without a bit of exaggeration or even hesitation.

Acquire it as soon as possible, and you will agree with me these are wonderful treasures, that waited so long for you to be part of your collection.
July 16, 2006

Wonderful Bach!

This CD contains the Bach keyboard Partitas 1,2 and 6. Rosalyn Tureck's performances are marvelous. The recording quality is very immediate and, I think, adds to the beauty of her playing in a way that doesn't come through in her mono recording of the entire set of the six keyboard Partitas on Philips. Her playing is full of dynamic contrast, warm, vivid, and she brings out the part writing in a way that no one else does.

Strongest possible recommendation!!

April 3, 2005

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