Pierre-Laurent Aimard – SJE Arts International Piano Series
J.S. Bach The Well-tempered Clavier Book II, BWV 870-893
[The interval will be half-way through, between Prelude and Fugue no. 12 and Prelude and Fugue no. 13.]
One of the world’s foremost pianists performs one of J.S. Bach’s most exceptional works.
‘…for the profit and use of musical youth desirous of learning, and especially for the pastime of those already skilled in this study…’ J.S. Bach’s exceptionally modest introduction to The Well-tempered Clavier – a work of such brilliant skill and invention that it may be the most influential keyboard music of all time.
The two books of The Well-tempered Clavier – each a complete set of preludes and fugues running through all the major and minor keys – were published twenty years apart. By the time Book II appeared in 1742, Bach was in the last decade of his life. While Book I is brilliant, Book II reaches a higher plane of imagination and complexity. To play the set in its entirety is extremely demanding on a performer.
Pierre-Laurent Aimard is acclaimed as an authority in the music of our time – a friend and collaborator of Messiaen and of Ligeti – but he is also recognised as a significant interpreter of piano repertoire from every age. Twelve years ago, he recorded the first book of The Well-tempered Clavier. This concert is an unmissable chance to hear him tackle the towering challenge of Book II.
Pierre-Laurent plays Prelude and Fugue in C from The Well-tempered Clavier, Book I: