Wilhelm Backhaus: The Complete 1940s Studio Recordings: Mozart, J S Bach, Beethoven & Schubert

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Fluent, unfussy and purposeful, Backhaus illuminates the music of some of his favourite composers. His playful understanding of the outer movements of Bach’s Italian Concerto and his gentle view... — BBC Music Magazine, February 2021, 4 out of 5 stars More…

Release Date: 30th Oct 2020
Catalogue No: APR_5637
Label: APR
Length: 82 minutes

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Mozart: Piano Concerto No. 26 in D major, K537 'Coronation'

Work length30:33

$7.00

$9.00

Wilhelm Backhaus
Staatskapelle Berlin
Fritz Zaun

I. Allegro

Track length13:39

$3.00

$3.85

II. Larghetto

Track length6:28

$1.00

$1.30

III. Allegretto

Track length10:26

$3.00

$3.85

Bach, J S: Italian Concerto, BWV971

Work length11:50

$3.00

$3.90

Wilhelm Backhaus

Track length3:48

$1.00

$1.30

II. Andante

Track length4:35

$1.00

$1.30

III. Presto

Track length3:27

$1.00

$1.30

Bach, J S: Prelude & Fugue in B-Flat Major, BWV 890

Work length4:15

$2.00

$2.60

Wilhelm Backhaus

I. Prelude

Track length2:32

$1.00

$1.30

II. Fugue

Track length1:43

$1.00

$1.30

Mozart: Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331 "Alla tura"

Work length14:23

$3.00

$3.90

Wilhelm Backhaus

I. Tema con variazione

Track length6:51

$1.00

$1.30

II. Menuetto

Track length4:16

$1.00

$1.30

III. Alla turca

Track length3:16

$1.00

$1.30

Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 18 in E flat major, Op. 31 No. 3 'The Hunt'

Work length17:45

$4.00

$5.20

Wilhelm Backhaus

I. Allegro

Track length6:11

$1.00

$1.30

II. Scherzo. Allegretto vivace

Track length3:43

$1.00

$1.30

III. Menuetto. Moderato e grazioso

Track length4:01

$1.00

$1.30

IV. Presto con fuoco

Track length3:50

$1.00

$1.30

Excerpt, Schubert: 4 Impromptus, D899 (Op. 90)

Work length3:57

$1.00

$1.30

Wilhelm Backhaus

No. 2 in E-Flat Major

Track length3:57

$1.00

$1.30

About
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About

German pianist, Wilhelm Backhaus (1884–1969) left a 60-year recorded legacy which began in 1908, but a major turning point came in 1950 when he switched allegiance from HMV to Decca. His last HMV recordings, included in this set, are amongst his least known and it appears that those from his final HMV sessions in Zürich in 1948 are reissued here for the first time. Backhaus had settled in Switzerland in the 1930s and although he continued to perform in Germany during the war, he only made one commercial recording, for HMV’s German affiliate Electrola. This recording, of Mozart’s ‘Coronation’ concerto, came about because of celebrations to mark the composer’s 150th anniversary and the result is particularly ebullient. Backhaus plays his own cadenzas and ornaments profusely in the slow movement, something very unusual in Mozart performance of the time. This exceptionally well-filled disc also includes full documentation explaining for the first time why Backhaus became disenchanted with HMV and left them for Decca.

Reviews

February 2021

Fluent, unfussy and purposeful, Backhaus illuminates the music of some of his favourite composers. His playful understanding of the outer movements of Bach’s Italian Concerto and his gentle view of its Andante are perhaps of especial appeal.

January/February 2021

A formidable presence, Backhaus at his best, was as eloquent as he was masterly.

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