J S BACH: Goldberg Variations BWV988
Angela Hewitt: Piano.
Hyperion CDA67305.
79m DDD.
At last, Angela Hewitt records the Goldberg variations! After having been
bowled over by her interpretations of the classic 'forty eight' in recent
months, this listener received this disc for review and immediately crawled
to the CD player with shaking hands and bated breath. What followed was one
of the most profound eighty minutes in my listening life, such is the
magnificence of this recording. Of course one cannot discount the Cortots,
Schnabels, Rubinsteins, Goulds (awesome) or the Haskils but I wager a tenner
that this disc will be a reference disc for these timeless variations for
many years to come.
Just sample Hewitt's playing in the fabulous 22nd variation or in the beautiful
melodies of the 10th and 11th and you will have heard what is indeed rarely
captured on record. Throughout the variations, Hewitt's sense of profound
purpose and utter omission of showmanship places these pieces not as trivial
night music but as amongst the greatest canvases that Bach ever composed.
Reading the promotional message, one realizes that the recording was made
in one complete take in the late evening; what a vigil that must have been!
The expert Ludger Bockenhoff (of Fermate fame) manages to capture a well
nigh unsurpassable sound in the Henry Wood Hall. This adds to the allure.
It would not do justice to this incredible interpretation if I were to describe
each piece, for that I refer you to Angela Hewitt's masterly images that
demonstrate her sheer passion for this music. For me, this is the release
of the year for Hyperion, unless they have more Bach from Hewitt, that is!
How about: 'The Art of Fugue' now?
Reviewer
Gerald Fenech
Performance:
Sound:
