Re: GG/Schiff and the waddling flightless bird

[Bradley P Lehman <bpl@umich.edu>]

On Wed, 5 Aug 1998, S. Hulme wrote:

> I note that Andras Schiff's WTC recordings are recommended (by Penguin I
> think).  I also have read from similar sources that GG's recordings of
> the English Suites were disastrously misconceived.
> 
> Would anyone agree with me when I say that I can find few redeeming
> features in what I have heard of any of Mr Schiff's playing, especially
> Bach, and to hold his recordings of Bach before those of GG to be
> bordering upon the absurd.

Check out the f_minor archive, searching on "schiff" - there are 24
messages from before this week where we've talked about his work vis-a-vis
Gould's.  Opinions vary...have a look.
http://www.tug.org/mail-archives/f_minor/

Personally, I would generally put Schiff into the top 10% or so of Bach
interpreters on the piano.  One could do a whole lot worse.  I think he
does an especially good job projecting graceful, intelligent, poised Bach
performances with an Affekt that I find appropriate to the music.  He has
a dance-like touch, not heavy or driven (the "manhands" approach, as my
wife calls it when she hears Bach played airlessly by many others).  I
like his Schubert, too, for similar reasons.  I do wish his engineers
would mike him a few feet more closely than they do.

And in terms of how much I usually agree or disagree with Penguin on
various issues, I'd generally put the _Penguin Guide_ into my personal
lowest 20% of review sources...their preferences and priorities just don't
match mine very often.  That they also like Schiff's Bach is, I think,
merely reassuring proof that as bad as it gets, Penguin still can't be
*completely* wrong.  :)  But there have been too many times when I've
listened to their Rosette or three-star recommendations, and been
completely baffled as to why they chose those over the entries that got
only one or two stars.  Sometimes I can't even figure out what they could
possibly have been thinking, which is the most troubling part.  Their
reviews are often so short and their choices seem so dang arbitrary...it
ends up being of not much value to read, other than amusement.  I
certainly don't base any purchases on Penguin opinions.

Bradley Lehman ~ Harrisonburg VA, USA ~ 38.45716N+78.94565W
bpl@umich.edu ~ http://www-personal.umich.edu/~bpl/