András Schiff’s time at the ECM label has resulted in a constant stream of magnificent recordings, the fruits of a long career revisiting the great keyboard literature. He has always been a devoted Bach pianist, and this set of the complete <i>Das wohltemperierte Klavier</i>—his second version—finds him relishing the wit, vitality, and variety of this endlessly rewarding score. Schiff has found a totally engaging way with Bach on the modern piano, and he plays in a manner that’s now more conversational, more refined in its phrasing, and leaner in its approach. Here’s a master at work.

Following last year’s completion of his highly-praised Beethoven cycle András Schiff returns to Bach with a superb interpretation of the six “Partitas”, recorded live in September 2007 at Neumarkt Reitstadl one of the best piano music venues in Eurpoe. The cycle, which in 1731 was the first group of works to be published by Bach himself, represents a unique stylistic synthesis of the suite form with a particular emphasis on most varied and imaginative opening movements. In his 1802 biography of Bach, Nikolaus Forkel famously wrote that “such splendid compositions for the clavier had not been seen or heard before… so brilliant, harmonious, expressive and constantly novel are they.” Compared to his London studio recording of 1983 this second rendering on disc demonstrates Schiff’s stylistic development towards more freedom, sonic depth and sheer pleasure of phrasing. The rather unorthodox sequence of partitas – 5 – 3 – 1 – 2 – 4 – 6 – draws an ascending line of keys leading from G major to e minor.