Bach: the French Suites

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Her approach is undeniably idiosyncratic. On the one hand a razor-sharp articulation and historically-informed awareness of Bach’s dance modes aligns her with harpsichordist free-spirits such... — BBC Music Magazine, March 2020, 4 out of 5 stars (Performance) / 5 out of 5 stars (Recording) More…

Release Date: 1st Nov 2019
Catalogue No: FHR070
Label: First Hand
Length: 2 hours 20 minutes

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Bach, J S: French Suite No. 1 in D Minor, BWV812

Work length14:50

$5.00

$6.50

$8.75

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Allemande

Track length3:32

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length1:53

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length3:34

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Menuets I & II

Track length3:04

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Gigue

Track length2:47

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 2 in C minor, BWV813

Work length15:35

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Allemande

Track length3:12

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length1:43

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length3:16

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Air

Track length1:25

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Menuets I & II

Track length3:36

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Gigue

Track length2:23

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV814

Work length16:49

$6.00

$7.80

$10.50

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Allemande

Track length3:40

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length2:05

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length3:30

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Anglaise

Track length1:19

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Menuet I - Trio - Menuet II

Track length4:18

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Gigue

Track length1:57

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 4 in E flat major, BWV815a (Early Version)

Work length1:46

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Prélude

Track length1:46

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

French Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 815

Work length7:32

$3.00

$3.90

$5.25

I. Allemande

Track length2:52

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length1:38

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length3:02

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

French Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 815a

Work length4:37

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Gavottes I & II

Track length4:37

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

French Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 815

Work length4:37

$3.00

$3.90

$5.25

V. Menuet

Track length0:48

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Air

Track length1:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Gigue

Track length2:14

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: Adagio in G major, BWV968

Work length4:26

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Alexandra Papastefanou

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 5 in G major, BWV816

Work length17:24

$7.00

$9.10

$12.25

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Allemande

Track length3:06

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length1:37

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length4:39

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Gavotte

Track length1:12

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Bourrée

Track length1:22

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Loure

Track length2:07

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Gigue

Track length3:21

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: French Suite No. 6 in E major, BWV817

Work length15:07

$8.00

$10.40

$14.00

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Allemande

Track length2:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Courante

Track length1:33

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Sarabande

Track length3:42

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Gavotte

Track length1:10

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

V. Polonaise

Track length1:20

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VIII. Menuet

Track length1:08

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VI. Bourrée

Track length1:22

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

VII. Gigue

Track length2:17

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Bach, J S: Fantasia in G Minor, BWV 920

Work length7:48

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Alexandra Papastefanou

Bach, J S: Prelude in C minor, BWV921

Work length2:45

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

Alexandra Papastefanou

Bach, J S: Prélude in A Minor, BWV 922

Work length7:03

$2.00

$2.60

$3.50

Alexandra Papastefanou

Bach, J S: Keyboard Sonata in D Minor, BWV964

Work length19:56

$4.00

$5.20

$7.00

Alexandra Papastefanou

I. Adagio

Track length4:15

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

II. Fuga. Allegro

Track length6:17

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

III. Andante

Track length4:49

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

IV. Allegro

Track length4:35

$1.00

$1.30

$1.75

About
Reviews
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About

The second album for FHR by the award winning, leading interpreter of J.S. Bach on piano: Alexandra Papastefanou. Here, we are presented with another classic set of keyboard works by the composer, The French Suites. Papastefanou, Greece’s leading pianist, is now regarded worldwide as a leading exponent of Bach on the piano. Her previous recording for FHR (The Well-Tempered Clavier, 2018 [FHR65], did incredibly well with the music press and critics (MusicWeb International RECORDING OF THE MONTH The Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics Award: BEST RECORDING OF 2018, 5 stars from BBC Music Magazine).

On listening to Alexandra’s Well-Tempered Clavier recording, the great pianist Alfred Brendel commented: ‘I find Papastefanou’s Bach riveting. This is Bach playing on a high level - full of life, controlled in all strands of the music, pianistically immaculate, and highly personal. Here is a Bach player who has lived a lifetime with this music.’

Amongst the other works featured on the album is the Keyboard Sonata, BWV 964, Bach’s own transcription for keyboard of the Sonata in A minor, BWV 1003 for Solo Violin. This is rarely recorded on the piano, so it’s a welcome addition to the catalogue.

Reviews

March 2020

Her approach is undeniably idiosyncratic. On the one hand a razor-sharp articulation and historically-informed awareness of Bach’s dance modes aligns her with harpsichordist free-spirits such as Richard Egarr; yet her search for ‘affekt’ is eclectic and she never forgets that her instrument of choice is a Steinway concert grand…Papastefanou’s is Bach playing of considerable distinction, vivacity and insight.

January 2020

She is first and foremost a deeply expressive player, whose Bach speaks with tremendous stylistic assurance. She pulls off the ‘unmeasured prelude’ of the E flat French Suite with the improvisatory élan of a schooled continuo veteran...Rather than imposing a didactic approach on her listeners, Papastefanou beckons them towards Bach by the gentle exercise of her own enthusiasm and sensibilities.

Offer,Bach: the French Suites

2 CDs

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