Dinu Lipatti - Bach Chorale Prelude BWV 659 (Audio)

Wasn't it the venerable Mr Stokowski who managed to conduct the premiere of Schoenberg's Violin Concerto? That was a feat in itself. Hats off to Stokowski!

By the way, I grew up on Dinu Lipatti recordings, and remember loving everything. I gave this performance another listen and soon reacclimated myself to Lipatti's world. This is not too austere, it is perfect. Maybe I've been listening to too many inferior performances recently! :)

Mozart, Bach, and Beethoven were, like Chopin, all great improvisers. Can you categorically state that these men never altered even one note from one performance to another? Of course not! Yet that's what you seem to be doing, based only on your own bias. Mozart even left room for improvised playing in at least one concerto. Unless you channeled these men and spoke with them, you cannot know. I would guess, given the concept of "taste" in the 18th century, that they did play variants.

I am astonished that the musicians here are unaware of extant variant readings by great composers. Chopin, for example, even wrote variants into his pupils' music (Jane Stirling, Dubois-O'Meara to name two). Chopin is not alone in this well-attested practice. A bit too much emotion here and not enough dispassionate scholarship.

Brings to mind the comment made by Godowsky after a Paderewski recital: "He plays well, but he's no Paderewski." As for Dinu, he's a wonderful pianist, but this performance is a notch too austere for my taste. (Excuse me while I duck under the table)

I just appreciate all of the beautiful sounds left in the universe for time immemorial and for all to enjoy. I wish we took up less time to discuss and just listened to the gift that was left for us no matter WHO is interpreting....that is the beauty of it to me...

wilhelm kempff transcribed a whole book of bach chorales which, aside from being majestic works of art, are great fun to practice pedaling with an organ in mind.

The chorale behind this piece is Nun Komm ... now come the Saviour of Gentiles ...

I'm glad there is Someone looking out for us Gentiles, seriously.

@49josephgm : There is ! Read your bible and believe !