J.S. BACH - Goldberg Variations - BWV 988

ID: STR37001 (EAN: 8011570370013)  | 1 CD | DDD
Publi: 2014

LABEL:

STRADIVARIUS

Subcollection:

Piano

Compositeurs:

BACH, Johann Sebastian

Interprètes:

PADOVA, Andrea (piano)

Pour plus amples dtails:

Andrea Padova, piano
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Andrea Padova’s experience is closely linked to Johann Sebastian Bach’s music: he won the “J.S. Bach International Piano Competition” (1995) and from that moment began recording several CDs devoted to J.S.
Bach’s keyboard works.
His performance of J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations prompted “The Washington Post” to write “The pianist Andrea Padova turns sound into poetry. His virtuosity, sensitively managed, resounds through every measure”.
Here follows a note about his interpretation of the Goldberg Variations: “In the execution of this CD, the variations are not only, as is the practice, divided into groups to form small unities in the great unity, but in all the cases in which Bach left an esoteric indication (in the writer’s opinion, however clearly readable: and here the motto Quaerendo Invenietis - “seek and you shall find” - of one of the canons of The Musical Offering - is valid), the interpreter has chosen not simply to place one variation after another but to link them so that the end of one flows directly into the beginning of the next, creating an intermediate form between Variations and Passacaglia (or Chaconne), which incidentally is the one in which Bach left other admirable masterpieces. A choice that some famous interpreters, both harpsichordists and pianists, among whom obviously Gould, have adopted sporadically and only for one or two pairs of variations: here, on the contrary, it is more the rule than the exception, as is evident when we listen to the last bar of the first variation which flows into the second and in the same way for many of the following variations. It seems useful to add that obviously
this choice would not be practicable if it had not in some way been made possible, i.e.planned and suggested by Bach himself.”

The "Goldberg" Variations remains the wildest of musical fantasies. Padova's wizardry and articulation gave the music its needed momentum, conveying the sense of successfully exceeding the limits of human possibility.
THE WASHINGTON POST

The Italian pianist Andrea Padova made his name as the winner of the J.S.Bach International Piano Competition in 1995 and with a highly regarded recording of Bach-Busoni transcriptions.
Padova is also a composer, and on Tuesday he devoted half his program at Merkin Concert Hall to his own works. He writes in an accessible, freewheeling style … His Prelude combined allusions to Bach and a variant of John Coltrane’s Love Supreme before sailing off on its own. Across the Border Line begins with a bright, attractive melody over a quietly rumbling bass, and evolves into a thundering showpiece. Stream developed similarly, starting with a jazzy chromatic ripple and ending with Lisztian explosiveness. And Highways has a sprightly character that suggests a car chase captured on film and played back at double speed.
NEW YORK TIMES

A strong personality, conviction, freedom, and style…
HAROLD C. SCHONBERG

Performing on a modern instrument, Padova nonetheless possesses a touch and articulation befitting these early suites. Balance is exceptional and at times the distinction between voices is so clear it almost seems as if Padova is playing on a multiple-manual instrument. Articulation is precise and ornaments are clear and sparkling, considerably adding to the color of the performance. Listeners looking to step outside of the more familiar Gould-Schiff-Perahia box would do well to consider this album, and will no doubt look forward to future volumes by this gifted artist.
ALL MUSIC GUIDE

Padova's inventive voice is decidedly his own...pleasantly intriguing.
SAN FRANCISCO EXAMINER

I had no idea the piano could be played so fast and yet with such perfect clarity. His flawless technique and outstanding interpretive skills made these works come to life for me in a way they never have before. Exciting, joyful, dramatic, tender…
Andrea Padova is a real find and deserves a great deal of attention. J.S.BACH.ORG

Andrea Padova… chaleureux, inspiré, qui portait sur son visage-même l’expression de son lyrisme, enchaîna des oeuvres de Chopin, Ravel et Liszt, avec, en particulier, une lumineuse compairason entre les “Jeux d’eau” de Ravel et les “Jeux d’eaux à la Villa d’Este” de Liszt.
NICE-MATIN

Mais, le temps fort de cette soirée fut, pour nous, la découverte d’un pianiste très séduisant, Andréa Padova. Pour donner toute sa mesure à l’ultime opus des concertos pour clavier de Mozart, il faut plus qu’un talent, il faut une âme. Expression du génie le plus pur de Mozart, ce concerto fut joué avec une grande élégance et une belle profondeur de sentiments par le pianiste italien, spécialiste de Bach. EASYCLASSIC

Obwohl Padova als führender Bach-Interpret angesehen wird und häufig dementsprechende Meisterklassen leitet, fühlt er sich ebenso im klassischen wie romantischen Repertoire zuhause. Neben Padovas sensibler Virtuosität fiel vor allem seine unglaublich satte Lesart der Werke auf, die seine starke Künstlerpersönlichkeit unterstrich.
WESTDEUTSCHE ALLGEMEINE
Mit dem Italienischen Konzert un der Französische Ouvertüre stellte Padova die beiden damals herrschenden Musikstile gegenüber und zeigte ein zweites Mal, daß Bach auf dem Klavier mit einer kenntnisreichen und stilistisch angemessenen Ausschöpfung der Barocken (Verzieungs-) Mittel kein Sakrileg sein muß, sondern ein Genuß sein kann.
MAINZER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG

Der junge Italianer zauberte auf dem Konzertflügel über eherneen Bässen verspieltes Rokoko-Flair und präsentierte eine Bach mit südländischer Leggerezza…Genauso viel Kompetenz bewies Andrea Padova dann in Sachen Beethoven und Schumann; und diese Vielseitigkeit kennzeichnet ihn als Musiker von Format.
SAARBRÜCKER ZEITUNG

Una lettura elegante e raffinata…un’ottima tecnica pianistica, una forte personalità…in ogni nota una ricchezza timbrica e melodica diversa….
CORRIERE DELLA SERA

Capace di misurarsi col repertorio colto, come con le esperienze del jazz, Andrea Padova rappresenta il miglior esempio di musicista capace di guardare fuori dall’accademia, aperto ma con una salda capacità di discriminare, che ne fa una delle figure più interessanti del panorama pianistico contemporaneo. INSOUND