"Hyperion Records issued this complete 4-CD set for Hewitt's 2007/08 "Bach World Tour" (bachworldtour). The original performances here (WTC-I, WTC-II) were recorded in 1998/99 and still set a high mark for contemporary recordings of Bach's 48. Its largely what put Angela on the music map back then. Small bonus: the splashy cover art (with her gorgeous Fazioli piano) is certainly more colorful than the rather mundane original graphics. Such monumental music and high-caliber performances make this collection a solid investment for the classical music collector - or anyone interested in the timeless art of J.S. Bach whose Well-Tempered Clavier is in the great pantheon of keyboard music. Compositions - 5 stars; Performances - 5 stars; Sound - 4 stars. More detailed reviews can be seen on the pages for the original two-set issues.
PS: In Spring '09, Hyperion released a new recording of the 48 from Hewitt's '08 tour period. According to the artist, the foundations of her interpretations are largely the same now as then - but her phrasing, distinguishing of parts and rhythmic drive have developed in their sophistication and technique from playing Bach for the last ten years. Also, the sound quality should be a notch higher with the latest recording technology. Also part of the Bach Tour is a masters-class DVD ("Bach Performance on Piano")."
Wonderful
Aquinas | celestial heights, UK | 06/14/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"I never tire of Bach's preludes and fugues; they provide constant stimulation for the brain whilst opening up the beart. This set has real balance and provides a wonderful contrast to Gould's wildly eccentric set. Warmly recommended"
Superb Bach
J. Mossberg | Eugene, OR | 04/12/2008
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Angela Hewitt is a star - the Well Tempered Klavier Book I and II are complete and wonderful She has amazing phrasing and technique. She brings out every voice involved with such clarity and yet the summation is so much greater than the parts. This is one of my all time favorite Bach compositions."
Tempted to deduct a star for that cover...
Teemacs | Switzerland | 12/21/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"...and even worse, it's repeated on the four individual cardboard sleeves inside. I'm sure I've seen worse covers, but I can't actually remember when.
However, by opening the box and its contents face down, so that I don't have to look at this particular bit of silliness (hopefully the deviser thereof has since been taken out and shot), and then bunging the disc in the machine and hitting the play button - magic! Ms Hewitt may never make the supermodel stakes in cheesy covers, but by gosh she does when the fingers tinkle the ivories. Suddenly you forget the stupid covers and disappear into the world of the genius that was and is J.S. Bach. The WTC is one of the great achievements of the keyboard, and Ms. Hewitt makes it dance and sing and jump for joy, but without overromanticising it in any way. You (well, OK, I) find yourself moaning along and singing and waving your hands in the air and tapping your feet.
Purists will (correctly) point out that this was written for the harpsichord, so playing on a modern piano is inappropriate. However, I am no purist, and if a modern artist on a modern instrument can make an 18th century composer speak to us today, then s/he has my vote. What would J.S. have thought? I bet he'd have loved it. Of course, given a modern Steinway, he, one of the greatest keyboardists of his time, would have written extraordinary things and not the WTC we now know.
To my admittedly untutored ears, Ms. Hewitt communicates Herr Bach brilliantly. To me, it simply SOUNDS right. I recommend it."