| Review by wehecht April 9, 2006 (8 of 8 found this review helpful)
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| This is the last disc in Angela Hewitt's extraordinary Bach cycle for Hyperion (besides this only the set of "English suites" is available on SACD). Because the pieces recorded here are not part of any series, like the toccatas or partitas, and are mostly relatively short it would be understandable if the prospective listener dismissed the disc as a miscellany of minor or unimportant scraps from the master's workbench. It would also be a mistake. Hewitt makes the point in her notes that the pieces come from different stages in Bach's career and demonstrate the enormous stylistic range of his keyboard works. My personal favorite is the relatively early Aria and Variations BWV989, a much shorter set than the famous "Goldbergs" but revealing several structural similarities. Throughout the recital Hewitt displays her comprehensive knowledge and mastery of baroque performance practice while nonetheless making a compelling case for performing Bach on the modern concert grand. Speaking of the piano, the instrument sounds fine, somewhat less aggressive than many Steinways, though I wish Hewitt's Bach recordings had featured the Fazioli she plays on some of her later discs. The recorded sound (I listened to MC only) is very good. Timbres and dynamics are accurately rendered, though there is perhaps a touch more empty hall resonance than is ideal.
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