Hewitt, Bach, Glasgow, Fazioli

[Dan Reed]

David,
Are there recordings of Bach with Ms. Hewitt that you would suggest/ my 
favorites are:  JSB's 'Goldberg Variations', with  Rosalyn Tureck, and 
Six Partitas, with Maria Tipo.

Dan Reed

Dallas, TX USA


On May 18, 2008, at 8:06 AM, David Boyce wrote:

> OK, so, last night I went to hear Angela Hewitt playing Book 1 of 
> Bach's Well-tempered Klavier at City Halls, Glasgow.
>
> I've been to lots of recitals over the years.  This was just about the 
> most joyous, moving and uplifting ever.  Ms Hewitt's preludes and 
> fugues were profound, spiritual, considered, moving, never mechanical, 
> never affected.
>
> As I hoped, she played a Fazioli (her own?)  and though I have played 
> them, and have CDs of them, this was the first time I have heard one 
> live in recital. I had a good seat, about twelve feet away from the 
> piano. City Halls Glasgow has a legendary acoustic. It was completely 
> refurbished a couple of years ago.
>
> The tuner came on it the interval to tweak. I didn't speak to him as 
> there was quite a bit of interest in the Fazioli and a good few people 
> went up to the stage - some on to it - to look at the piano and chat 
> to the tuner. (the stage is fairly low).
>
> Ms Hewitt used all three pedals.  The piano sound was superb. I've 
> sometimes felt that Faziolis in recordings I've heard sound rather 
> cold somehow.  So it was interesting to listen in live recital. Having 
> played a few of them myself I know that they feel fantastically even 
> and the tone quality is equally fantastically even and well-balanced.  
> In recital it was a delight to listen to.
>
> Only the fact that I have another appointment prevents me from going 
> back on Monday to hear Book 2.  If you're in the UK, go!
>
> Yesterday afternoon I tuned the beautiful Steinway B in the local 
> theatre, for performance of Scots light baritone Peter Morrison (his 
> mother taught beside my late Aunt). The Steinway there is from the 
> 1880s but was superbly reconditioned by Steinway about 27 years ago, 
> and it's wonderful.  A friend who went to the concert last night told 
> me this morning that Peter Morrison commented favourably on the 
> wonderful piano......it's all in the tuning, of course!
>
> Best regards,
>
> David.