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Editorial Reviews

This is an "expanded edition" of Murray Perahia's original album, adding Handel's "Harmonious Blacksmith Suite" to the original three Bach suites. Perahia is an extremely talented pianist, and he has no trouble at all handling all the different lines of music that Bach can put together in one short movement. But it's that "putting together" where Perahia seems to fall short of the mark. He plays these suites with a clear tone, and his coloring, while not excessive or dramatic, is more than many pianists use for Bach. He uses the pedal prudently, but creates greater contrasts with dynamics and exceptionally well-shaped phrasing, although there are several moments where he could take the tiniest bit more time and let the listener appreciate one phrase before moving on to the next. The lines are separate and easy to follow in his hands. However, there seems to be little interaction between the lines, frequently little sense of them building a greater whole together. There are glimpses of greater unity in the Prelude of the "Suite No. 3," which almost sound orchestral in texture, but those are the exceptions. Usually he gives one line, the most obvious melody line, prominence over the others. The Handel is played with a similar distinction between musical lines. The "Harmonious Blacksmith" variations are executed at heady speeds, creating a striking end to a disc that is otherwise rather disappointing. Patsy Morita, All Music Guide

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