Keyboard Works (box set) Main Performer or Conductor: Andras Schiff Instrumentation: Piano Individual Works: CD 1: 2 & 3-Part Inventions: BWV 772a - BWV 801 4 Duets, BWV 802 - BWV 805 Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, BWV 903 CD 2: English Suites No. 1, 2, 3: BWV 806, BWV 807, BWV 808 CD 3: English Suites No. 4, 5, 6: BWV 809, BWV 810, BWV 811 CD 4: French Suites No. 1, 2, 3: BWV 812, BWV 813, BWV 814 CD 5: French Suites No. 4, 5, 6: BWV 815, BWV 816, BWV 817 Italian Concerto in F major, BWV 971 French Overture (partita) in B minor, BWV 831 CD 6: Partitas No. 1, 2, 3: BWV 825, BWV 826, BWV 827 CD 7: Partitas No. 4, 5, 6: BWV 828, BWV 829, BWV 830 CD 8 & 9: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I: 24 Preludes and Fugues, BWV 846-869 CD 10 & 11: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II: 24 Preludes and Fugues, BWV 870-893 CD 12: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 Format: Compact Disc Record Label: Decca Catalog Number: 452 279-2 Year Released/Recorded: Recorded 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1993 This version released 1996 Total Playing Time: disc 1: 69.35 disc 2: 61.09 disc 3: 68.05 disc 4: 53.08 disc 5: 76.07 disc 6: 69.02 disc 7: 68.21 disc 8: 54.08 disc 9: 56.04 disc 10: 74.13 disc 11: 70.02 disc 12: 72.20 Comments: Review by Jan Hanford: Recording: Outstanding Performance: Perfection Andras Schiff is my favorite pianist for Bach. For me, his playing is the epitome of elegance, beauty, and intelligence. He articulates the counterpoint with absolute precision while maintaining a feeling of effortlessness. His technique is astonishing; he plays with both power and delicacy, as appropriate. It is rare to find a pianist capable of such dynamic diversity and control. His ego does not enter into the performance; the music is his passion. He makes it impossible not to fall in love with every one of his performances of these works. These recordings are available separately, with the exception of the Partitas which are out of print. Rather than those cumbersome jewel boxes, this set is packaged exactly like the good old days of LP's: a board box with each cd in an envelope, and including a booklet of detailed information about the music (although less than the individual editions) and also Schiff's philosophy behind his performance. Having these recordings collected into one box is really great, giving it the premier position on my shelf, and confirming Schiff's status as the ultimate Bach interpreter. It doesn't get any better than this! Acknowledgements: From the collection of Jan Hanford. Date First Submitted: 05/22/1998 Purchasing: Suggested Purchasing Sources Note: Inclusion in this database does not guarantee the availability of any recording. Some recordings may be out-of-print or no longer available.