Track Listing

Disc 1:

1. Prelude in C major
2. Fugue in C major
3. Prelude in C minor
4. Fugue in C minor
5. Prelude in C sharp major
6. Fugue in C sharp major
7. Prelude in C sharp minor
8. Fugue in C sharp minor
9. Prelude in D major
10. Fugue in D major
11. Prelude in D minor
12. Fugue in D minor
13. Prelude in E flat major
14. Fugue in E flat major
15. Prelude in E flat minor
16. Fugue in E flat minor
17. Prelude in E major
18. Fugue in E major
19. Prelude in E minor
20. Fugue in E minor
21. Prelude in F major
22. Fugue in F major
23. Prelude in F minor
24. Fugue in F minor

Disc 2:

1. Prelude in F sharp major
2. Fugue in F sharp major
3. Prelude in F sharp minor
4. Fugue in F sharp minor
5. Prelude in G major
6. Fugue in G major
7. Prelude in G minor
8. Fugue in G minor
9. Prelude in A flat major
10. Fugue in A flat major
11. Prelude in G sharp minor
12. Fugue in G sharp minor
13. Prelude in A major
14. Fugue in A major
15. Fugue in A minor
16. Prelude in B flat major
17. Fugue in B flat major
18. Prelude in B flat minor
19. Fugue in B flat minor
20. Prelude in B major
21. Fugue in B major
22. Prelude in B minor
23. Fugue in B minor

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #119869 in Music
• Released on: 2000-10-17
• Number of discs: 2

Customer Reviews

Historical, but well played and clear enough
I have never heard the EMI edition of Fischer's Well-Tempered Clavier, which came out in 2000 and is said to have very good sound quality, so I can't say whether the sound on this Naxos version (also 2000) is better or worse. For a historical recording, though, it sounds fine. The music is clear enough, and there is very little rumble or hiss that you might have heard on other historical recordings. It is plain from the liner notes that it was lovingly restored, using equipment and techniques that the producers are proud of.
Fischer plays many of the pieces faster than Richter, and certainly faster than Gould. The prelude to #2 (in C minor) he plays at dazzling speed. Personally, I'm into that, but if you like your Bach at a mellow pace, this is probably not for you. Not that it's all fast: when it's meant to be slow, Fischer plays slow; there are parts of this CD that you could fall asleep to.
The EMI edition puts both Book I and Book II onto one 3-CD set. Naxos splits them up, offering Book I (presently being reviewed) and Book II as separate 2-CD sets for a total of four discs. The Naxos editions together cost a few dollars less than the EMI version, and they have (to my mind) the benefit of simplicity: one set for Book I, and another for Book II. The price is right and the music is wonderfully played. If you don't mind the slightly distant sound of a historical recording, this is a delightful edition of the Well-Tempered Clavier.

The Forest and the Trees
I happened to have both the EMI and Naxos versions. The former is only of marginally better sound quality only. I rather prefer the version on Philips' Great Pianists of the Century-- but that is not a complete set of the old testament though.

In Edwin Fsucher, we could perhaps look for four things. First and foremost would be his power of divination, it's heavenly music that he has to offer. Second, his superb legato sound. Only Hofmann and Serkin or perhaps Freire could really compare with him on this score. Third, coupled with a super legato is his luminous sound particularly those from the chords which could be so powerfully dramatic. Fourth, a FRESHNESS as though the piece is improvised instead of mannered or calculated-- it was mainly because of this that pianists of the older generation couldn't, or rather wouldn't, play the way we do.

The expense: some wrong notes, yes, quite a few. But shouldn't we focus on the whole picture and look at the forest instead? This is no exam, nor any competition. It's the music and music making process that matter after all.