Title: A Good Introduction to Bach and Schiff
Product review: Pianist A. Schiff has established a presence in the classical arena in part by playing Bach's keyboard music on the piano. Reaction to his Bach performances ranges from enthusiastic praise to harsh critique. I'm not a specialist in Baroque music, although I do agree with detractors that his more recent CDs on Bach sound mannered. By contrast, this CD, made relatively earlier in Schiff's career (late 70s, I believe) sounds much less idiosyncratic and labored in handling the 3 suites. The music is closely recorded without sounding harsh, resulting in an overal crisp and direct rendition. The program is admirably balanced between the familiar (The Italian Concerto and the 5th French Suite) and the less accessible (The French Overture). Overall, a pleasant experience if you can resist comparing every interpretive detail with recording by Gould, Tureck, Hewitt, etc.
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