BACH, J.S.: THE WELL-TEMPERED CLAVIER, BOOKS I & II - SVIATOSLAV RICHTER (4 CDS)

Bach: 48 Preludes & Fugues
(Das Wohltempierte Klavier) BWV 846-93

Sviatoslav Richter

“There are some remarkable moments on these discs …remarkable as piano playing … Usually his tone is exquisitely cultivated, and Preludes such as the F minor, G minor and B flat minor are beautifully phrased; excellent, too, are quick, lithe ones like like the D major and D minor or the B flat major. Richter’s virtuosity is impressive in other Preludes such as the C minor and A minor. Of course, some Bach is very romantic and the Preludes in C sharp and E flat minor are very fine … I admire, also, the limpid sound of the C major and B minor Preludes; first and last in the first book, and Richter quickly responds to genre pieces like the D major Fugue, which is an ouverture a la francaise.” (Gramophone)

The Well-Tempered Clavier – Book I (BWV 846–869)
DISC ONE [59:00]
1 & 2 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major BWV 846 1:58 & 2:30
3 & 4 Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor BWV 847 1:18 & 1:39
5 & 6 Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C sharp major BWV 848 1:14 & 2:03
7 & 8 Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C sharp minor BWV 849 3:13 & 6:20
9 & 10 Prelude and Fugue No. 5 in D major BWV 850 1:08 & 1:51
11 & 12 Prelude and Fugue No. 6 in D minor BWV 851 1:26 & 2:31
13 & 14 Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E flat major BWV 852 3:40 & 1:27
15 & 16 Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in E flat minor BWV 853 4:24 & 6:25
17 & 18 Prelude and Fugue No. 9 in E major BWV 854 1:04 & 1:05
19 & 20 Prelude and Fugue No. 10 in E minor BWV 855 1:53 & 1:06
21 & 22 Prelude and Fugue No. 11 in F major BWV 856 0:55 & 1:16
23 & 24 Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F minor BWV 857 2:08 & 5:19

DISC TWO [63:44]
1 & 2 Prelude and Fugue No. 13 in F sharp major BWV 858 1:24 & 2:15
3 & 4 Prelude and Fugue No. 14 in F sharp minor BWV 859 0:51 & 4:18
5 & 6 Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G major BWV 860 0:48 & 2:22
7 & 8 Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor BWV 861 1:57 & 2:51
9 & 10 Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A flat major BWV 862 1:10 & 2:55
11 & 12 Prelude and Fugue No. 18 in G sharp minor BWV 863 1:24 & 3:25
13 & 14 Prelude and Fugue No. 19 in A major BWV 864 1:11 & 2:37
15 & 16 Prelude and Fugue No. 20 in A minor BWV 865 0:55 & 4:08
17 & 18 Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B flat major BWV 866 1:05 & 1:28
19 & 20 Prelude and Fugue No. 22 in B flat minor BWV 867 2:26 & 4:19
21 & 22 Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B major BWV 868 0:51 & 2:33
23 & 24 Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor BWV 869 7:51 & 7:33

DISC THREE [72:35]
1 & 2 Prelude and Fugue No. 1 in C major BWV 870 2:31 & 1:30
3 & 4 Prelude and Fugue No. 2 in C minor BWV 871 1:49 & 2:37
5 & 6 Prelude and Fugue No. 3 in C sharp major BWV 872 1:30 & 1:46
7 & 8 Prelude and Fugue No. 4 in C sharp minor BWV 873 3:46 & 1:56
9 & 10 Prelude and Fugue No. 5 in D major BWV 874 4:54 & 3:27
11 & 12 Prelude and Fugue No. 6 in D minor BWV 875 1:22 & 1:37
13 & 14 Prelude and Fugue No. 7 in E flat major BWV 876 2:19 & 2:17
15 & 16 Prelude and Fugue No. 8 in D sharp minor BWV 877 3:17 & 4:25
17 & 18 Prelude and Fugue No. 9 in E major BWV 878 4:12 & 4:28
19 & 20 Prelude and Fugue No. 10 in E minor BWV 879 3:01 & 2:40
21 & 22 Prelude and Fugue No. 11 in F major BWV 880 3:02 & 1:35
23 & 24 Prelude and Fugue No. 12 in F minor BWV 881 4:11 & 1:52
25 & 26 Prelude and Fugue No. 13 in F sharp major BWV 882 2:45 & 2:31

DISC FOUR [76:26]
1 & 2 Prelude and Fugue No. 14 in F sharp minor BWV 883 3:24 & 6:05
3 & 4 Prelude and Fugue No. 15 in G major BWV 884 2:12 & 1:09
5 & 6 Prelude and Fugue No. 16 in G minor BWV 885 2:51 & 3:28
7 & 8 Prelude and Fugue No. 17 in A flat major BWV 886 3:05 & 3:33
9 & 10 Prelude and Fugue No. 18 in G sharp minor BWV 887 3:43 & 6:43
11 & 12 Prelude and Fugue No. 19 in A major BWV 888 1:32 & 1:06
13 & 14 Prelude and Fugue No. 20 in A minor BWV 889 4:27 & 1:29
15 & 16 Prelude and Fugue No. 21 in B flat major BWV 890 5:48 & 3:49
17 & 18 Prelude and Fugue No. 22 in B flat minor BWV 891 2:52 & 7:39
19 & 20 Prelude and Fugue No. 23 in B major BWV 892 1:29 & 5:06
21 & 22 Prelude and Fugue No. 24 in B minor BWV 893 2:18 & 1:39