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Partitas BWV 825-830
Masaaki Suzuki (Harpsichord)
Suzuki’s Partitas
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K-8 |
J.S. Bach: Partitas for Harpsichord |
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Partitas BWV 825-830 [ 21:51, 22:29, 21:59, 37:00, 23:34, 34:02] |
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Masaaki Suzuki (Harpsichord) |
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BIS |
Oct 2001 |
2-CD / TT: 161:20 |
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Recorded at Kobe Shoin Women's University, Japan.
Review: Partitas by Suzuki
Buy this album at: Amazon.com |
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Bob Henderson wrote (April 14, 2004):
I have been a collector and advocate of Maasaki Suzuki's cantata series since its inception. I have journeyed 1000 miles to hear his Matthew Passion. But I had never heard his keyboard recordings. My love of Gould might account for this.
Until now.
His Six Partitas have quickly become a desert island disc. These have opened my eyes to Bach anew. What a pleasant and unexpected experience.
The recording has done well, recieving Goldberg Magazine CD of the year award and getting good to excellent reviews elsewhere. But as Uri Golomb points out in the Goldberg review, and as documented in every other review there is a kind of restraint in Suzuki's playing. Almost every reviewer states that good as the performance is, there are places where Suzuki holds back where perhaps he might have let 'er rip, as it were, a bit more.
But its that quality that I love about this performance. And it is difficult to define. The words refined, restrained, stately, intimate, inward, measured all might apply but only in part. Its more than that. The performance is deeply felt but overt emotion is implied rather than stated. Suzuki simply gives the listener that which is needed for the listeners experience.
I wonder here how cross cultural influences come into play. The simplicity and elegance of the Japanese house and garden. But the metaphore which most clearly comes to mind here in listening to his Six Partitas is the Tea Ceremony. |
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Feedback to the Review |
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Jack Botelho wrote (April 14, 2004):
[To Bob Henderson] Lovely review. This recording has received glowing praise. I like the idea of a restrained, intimate performance. Stylistically, Bach was a very conservative composer overall. Outlandish performances have little to do with the historical realities of his music (only an opinion).
Thanks for the review. I assume this is a 2003 BIS release. I'll keep my eye peeled for it. |
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Kirk McElhearn wrote (April 14, 2004):
[To Jack Botelho] For info, here's my review from last year when the set was released.
http://www.musicweb.uk.net/classrev/2003/Feb03/bach_partitas_suzuki.htm
(Also: Review: Partitas by Suzuki [McElhearn]) |
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