Review: J.S. Bach Works for Harpsichord by Karl Richter

August 24, 2001

Works for Harpsichord

Performer: Karl Richter

Instrumentation: Harpsichord (Neupert)

Individual Works:

Italian Concerto in F major BWV 971 Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor BWV 903 Toccata in G minor BWV 915 Pastorale in F major BWV 590 Fantasia in C minor BWV 906

Record Label: Deutsche Grammophon

Year Released/Recorded: 1969/1970

Total Playing Time: 50min

Comments:

Ko Unoki said:

Given the current trend in using period instruments for performing the music of Bach, Richter's use of a modern Neupert harpsichord may seem to look like an act of heresy for those orthodox historical purists. However, whatever one's preference may be for "authenticity,” there is no denying that Richter's performance is a superb example of virtuosity that has few equals. Richter's frequent use of the 16 foot stop in his playing that accentuates the bass line in Bach’s music (which is especially evident in the Chromatic Fantasia and Fugue in D minor where the fugue builds up to a climax over a dominant pedal and crashing doubled octaves in the bass) is effective in bringing out a sense of unparalleled grandeur. This is a fully big, red-blooded performance of Bach that puts to shame the often anemic sounding exhibitions of Bach's music using historic harpsichord instruments.