| Evaluation Our evaluation system may be summarized as follows: |
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| **** | A really exceptional issue on every count |
| *** | An outstanding performance and recording of the calibre we now take for granted |
| ** | A good performance and recording of today's normal hight standard |
| * | A fair of somewhat routine performance, reasonably well performed or recorded |
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Our evaluation is normally applied to the records as a whole,
unless there are two main works or groups of works, and by different composers. in this case, each is dealt with separately
in its appropriate place. |
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be consistent, Rosette is a quite arbitrary compliment by a member of the reviewing
team to a recorded performance which, he finds, shows special illumination, magic, a spiritual quality,
or even outstanding production values, that place it in a very special class. Occasionally a Rosette
has been awarded for an issue that seems to us to offer extraordinary value for money, but that
presupposes that the performance or performances are outstanding too. The choice in essentially a
personal one (although often it represents a shared view) and in a some cases it is applied to an
issue where certain reservations must also be mentioned in the text of the review. the Rosette
symbol is placed before the usual evaluation and the record number. It is quite small - we do not
mean to imply an Academy Award, but a personal token of appreciation for something uniquely valuable.
We hope that, once the reader has discovered and perhaps acquired a "Rosetted" CD, its
special qualities will soon become apparent. There are, of course, more of them now, for our survey
has become a distillation of the excellence of CDs issued and reissued over a considerable time span. |
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BACH, Johann Sebastian
(1685-1750)
English Suites 1-6, BWV 806-11
The italian pianist, Andrea Bacchetti is a comparatively new name to us but he has already given us
an outstanding DVD of the Goldberg Variations, and is a very impressive exponent of this repertoire.
His set of the English Suites is very appealing, and can be spoken of alongside that of Perahia. His
lyrical flow is most winning, his range of dynamic beautifully modulated, and the dance movements,
neatly articulated, are full of character. He plays a Fazioli piano, perfectly suites to the music,
and is recorded with perfect realism and naturaless in the Fazioli Concert Hall, Sacile.
(2010)
BACH, Johann Sebastian
(1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (DVD Version)
Andrea Bacchetti performs the Goldberg Variations in the handsome Villa Trissino Marzotto,
Trissino, Vicenza in 2006 and offers a ten-minute introduction to them, albeit not particularly
revealing, as well as much more perceptive notes. The performance itself is satisfyngly musical,
with fine tonal shading and an effortless technique. Very good camera work which never detracts
attention fron the music. The set also includes a CD of another, later performance recorded at the
Teatro Chiabrera, Savona in 2007.
Very recommendable.
(2010)
CHERUBINI, Luigi
(1760-1842)
6 Keyboard Sonatas (1783)
Andrea Bacchetti has given us several oustanding new recordings in the present volume
(including an impressive DVD of Bach's Goldberg Variations), but none is more
valuable than this set of Cherubini's Six Keyboard Sonatas, published in 1783 but
probably written earlier (perhaps 1780). They are most engaging two-movements works, with
a strong flavour of early Mozart, but with gallant touches to add charm.
Their invention is consistently diverse and in these captivating performances one is drawn
to return to then often. They are beautifully recorded and this is a disc to be snapped up
before it disappears.
Highly recommended indeed.
(2010)
GALUPPI, Baldassarre
(1706-1785)
8 Keyboard Sonatas
Andrea Bacchetti has already uncovered for us some remarkable piano music of Cherubini. Now he
turns to Galuppi, who wrote over 100 sonatas, most of which are still unknow. Those here are of
high quality. They are almost always in two movements, usually slow then fast, and playing
together for about nine or ten minutes, although the work in B flat included here as an opening
Andante which extends to ten minutes in itself. Galuppi's invention is delightful and by no means
stereotyped and his music is fully worthy of a modern piano. Bacchetti brings each work to life
with his pellucid articulation and always charms the ear. He is very well recorded too. A disc
not to be missed, even though itis not key repertoire.
(2010)
BACH, Johann Sebastian
(1685-1750)
15 2-Part Inventions BWV 772-86; 15 3-Part Inventions (Sinfonias)
BWV 787-801; 6 Little Preludes BWV 933-8; 6 Little Preludes BWV 939-43 & 999; 6 Little
Preludes from the Clavierbüchlein for Wilhelm Friedemann Bach BWV 924-31; 3 Fughettas BWV 952, 953
& 961; Prelude and Fugue BWV 895; Preludes and Fughettas BWV 899, 900, & 902a; French Suite
6 BWV 817; Partita 2 BWV 826
Dynamic CDS 629/1-2 (2). Andrea Bacchetti (piano)
Bach's Klaviermusic (including the 2-Part Inventions and the rather more complex 3-Part Sinfonias)
was mainly written in Köthen from 1717 to 1723 for Bach's eldest son, Wilhelm Friedmann, and the Sixth
French Suite and Second Partita also seem to come from the end of this period. So for Andrea Bacchetti
to include them in his survey seems very appropriate, and they are wholly welcome musically.
The monothematic Inventions are simply structured and usually brief, but their very simplicity adds
to their immediacy of appeal, with changes of style from dance to fugue, from expressive writing to
canon. Bacchetti, who has already given us a first-rate DVD of the Goldberg Variations (Arthaus 101447),
plays them with spontaneous freshness and plenty of expressive life, and these two discs make very
appealing listening.
(2011)
CHERUBINI, Luigi
(1760-1842)
6 Keyboard Sonatas (1783)
RCA 88697057742. Andrea Bacchetti (piano)
This set of six Cherubini Sonatas was published in 1783 but was probably written earlier
(perhaps 1780). They are most engaging two-movement works with a strong flavour of Mozart, but
with galant touches to add charm. Their invention is appealingly diverse, and in these captivating
performances one is drawn to return to them often. They are beautifully recorded. The Italian
pianist, Andrea Bacchetti, is a relatively new name to us. He is an enterprising artist, willing
to explore the keyboard repertoire, and his playing is always distinctive, cultivated and full
of life.
(2011)
MARCELLO, Benedetto
(1686-1739)
Piano Sonatas 3 in G; 5 in D min.; 7 in A min.; 9 in A; 10 in C
min.; 2 Minuets in C
RCA 88697814662. Bacchetti (Fazioli piano)
Benedetto Marcello spent his whole life in Venice serving as a nobleman within the Venetian
government. His music had been all but forgotten until two manuscripts of his keyboard music
were discovered recently in Venice's Marciana Library. It is of the highest quality, as these
splendid performances by the Genoese pianist Andrea Bacchetti demonstrate. Bacchetti has already
made a number of fine recordings, including two of the Bach Goldberg Variations, and his
understanding of baroque repertoire is outstanding making this superb set of performances,
using a highly suitable Fazioli piano, very rewarding indeed, especially as he is beautifully
recorded. He articulates the opening Allegro of the Third Sonata, with its repeated notes, most
winningly, and follows with a simply played Andante. The Largo slow movements of the Fifth,
Ninth and Tenth Sonatas, and the Cantabile and Largo of No.7, are all gently expressive in
Bacchetti's hands, yet of considerable depth. Allegros are always crisply articulated and bounce
along infectiously, and the interplay of the Presto movements of the A minor and C minor works
is particularly engaging. The two separat Minuets make further attractive contrasts. Altogether
a most rewarding collection. Yet Bacchetti tells us that it is difficult for Italian keyboard
players to obtain engagements outside Italy, as concert promoters tend to identify Italians
with opera only!
(2012)