BWV 848 Comparison

[GardenShack]

I can't believe I'm getting into an argument over Bach interpretations on youtube, but it looks like it's happening. A lot of people are bashing Schiff here, while he is the only one who doesn't play the prelude ridiculously fast. Playing it fast is fun and sounds interesting but completely destroys the emotion of it, it also doesn't do justice to the harmony as you can barely hear a lot of the subtle harmony in the piece. However I think Schiff plays the piece beautiful and tactfully.

[humpert]

i hate schiff

[humpert]

richter the best on this one.

[Pollinikrys]

simplicity of CG, emotional fluency of SR, and mellowness of AS.

[alexisbarrerao1]

Thank you for uploading this video, I loved it, and it helped me to choose the next CD I will buy.

[leonardpater]

What's the sense of this comparissons???

[pugay69]

I love GG's clarity, and Richter's character and "gestus", especially in the fugue. Schiff is sappy and crappy. The real winner in this contest, however, is J. S. Bach.

[dogtransport]

I say Richter!

[KABRIS1]

When artists reach this level of musicianship they shouldn't be compared.

[pianogus]

@KABRIS1 I agree with you!

[KABRIS1]

His staccato is part of what makes all the notes come out so clearly and evenly.

[KABRIS1]

PIZZICATO? I think you meant staccato.Your views can't be taken seriously .Wrong instrument!

[theoje143]

@KABRIS1 Dont be a wanker.

[KABRIS1]

@theoje143 I don't think you know what the hell you are talking about.

[Enix5548]

How many recordings of Bach does Richter have? I thought he plays much more slowly and with more sensitivity.

[PetStuBa]

I think the spirit of Gould matches bach's spirit the best, the echo and the romantic style of Schiff is musical yes is beautiful, but sometimes too much for me, sometimes I'm really impressed by Richter's fuga's

[rssfhs]

Schiff's playing is much more sensitive and musical than the other two!!

[quihenry]

@rssfhs Nonsense... It's a matter of musical concepts, that's it.. They are all legendary musicians... what are you talking about.. ?

[rssfhs]

@quihenry Of course Gould is a legendary musician! I'm not disputing that fact at all. He is a genius! All I'm saying is that for me, his playing is more technically thrilling and unique than moving.

[josephknecht]

@rssfhs Interesting, since I find Gould's playing extremely 'moving'. His Goldberg Variations sometimes brings me to tears at the final repetition of the Aria. After listening to his performances I have a hard time even listening to other Bach recordings as they are either too imprecise, blurry, or just plain uninteresting. Gould's mastery of counterpoint and elucidating each unique voice is unmatched.

[fledgehog]

@josephknecht agreed about the goldbergs...the final aria is simply a reprise of the opening, but something about it and the way gould plays it makes me weak...

[nonaCbarC]

Schiff #1

Richter #2

Gould #3 (only cause this is a 3 men competition).

Glenn hammers away all the notes again. For this man every notes are pizzicato & forte.

[pugay69]

@nonaCbarC pizzicato-- kinda takes away all your credibility, lol

[parule]

Gould wins

[brunojl2]

They are just all so different. In particular Gould's and Schiff's. Different schools, techniques and feelings. Nevertheless, I must confess, I happen to enjoy Glenn more than the other two. Although, Schiff's is so seductive!

[rolldito]

i prefer Glenn gould

[Hardwyck]

I like Schiff's prelude and Gould's fugue. In the first part of the prelude, Gould does precisely what Tovey warns against: making the accompanying figure sound like "braying". But I think Gould articulates the part writing In the fugue more clearly than Schiff.

[salviati]

Increasingly I prefer Schiff over Gould for almost all Bach performances. Schiff's Goldbergs are matchless.

[greyhall1]

I also prefer Schiff

[firebreathone2]

I prefer Schiff

[nyczdavv]

great upload :-)