Ivory Classics Online

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Disc.Contnets

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750):

Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2

-- DISC 1 --

• [1-01] Prelude No. 1 in C major, BWV. 870 ('00)
• [1-02] Fugue No. 1 in C major, BWV. 870 ('00)
• [1-03] Prelude No. 2 in C minor, BWV. 871 ('00)
• [1-04] Fugue No. 2 in C minor, BWV. 871 ('00)
• [1-05] Prelude No. 3 in C sharp major, BWV. 872 ('00)
• [1-06] Fugue No. 3 in C sharp major, BWV. 872 ('00)
• [1-07] Prelude No. 4 in C sharp minor, BWV. 873 ('00)
• [1-08] Fugue No. 4 in C sharp minor, BWV. 873 ('00)
• [1-09] Prelude No. 5 in D major, BWV. 874 ('00)
• [1-10] Fugue No. 5 in D major, BWV. 874 ('00)
• [1-11] Prelude No. 6 in D minor, BWV. 875 ('00)
• [1-12] Fugue No. 6 in D minor, BWV. 875 ('00)
• [1-13] Prelude No. 7 in E flat major, BWV. 876 ('00)
• [1-14] Fugue No. 7 in E flat major, BWV. 876 ('00)
• [1-15] Prelude No. 8 in E flat minor, BWV. 877 ('00)
• [1-16] Fugue No. 8 in E flat minor, BWV. 877 ('00)
• [1-17] Prelude No. 9 in E major, BWV. 878 ('00)
• [1-18] Fugue No. 9 in E major, BWV. 878 ('00)
• [1-19] Prelude No. 10 in E minor, BWV. 879 ('00)
• [1-20] Fugue No. 10 in E minor, BWV. 879 ('00)
• [1-21] Prelude No. 11 in F major, BWV. 880 ('00)
• [1-22] Fugue No. 11 in F major, BWV. 880 ('00)
• [1-23] Prelude No. 12 in F minor, BWV. 881 ('00)
• [1-24] Fugue No. 12 in F minor, BWV. 881 ('00)

-- DISC 2 --

• [2-01] Prelude No. 13 in F sharp major, BWV. 882 ('00)
• [2-02] Fugue No. 13 in F sharp major, BWV. 882 ('00)
• [2-03] Prelude No. 14 in F sharp minor, BWV. 883 ('00)
• [2-04] Fugue No. 14 in F sharp minor, BWV. 883 ('00)
• [2-05] Prelude No. 15 in G major, BWV. 884 ('00)
• [2-06] Fugue No. 15 in G major, BWV. 884 ('00)
• [2-07] Prelude No. 16 in G minor, BWV. 885 ('00)
• [2-08] Fugue No. 16 in G minor, BWV. 885 ('00)
• [2-09] Prelude No. 17 in A flat major, BWV. 886 ('00)
• [2-10] Fugue No. 17 in A flat major, BWV. 886 ('00)
• [2-11] Prelude No. 18 in G sharp minor, BWV. 887 ('00)
• [2-12] Fugue No. 18 in G sharp minor, BWV. 887 ('00)
• [2-13] Prelude No. 19 in A major, BWV. 888 ('00)
• [2-14] Fugue No. 19 in A major, BWV. 888 ('00)
• [2-15] Prelude No. 20 in A minor, BWV. 889 ('00)
• [2-16] Fugue No. 20 in A minor, BWV. 889 ('00)
• [2-17] Prelude No. 21 in B flat major, BWV. 890 ('00)
• [2-18] Fugue No. 21 in B flat major, BWV. 890 ('00)
• [2-19] Prelude No. 22 in B flat minor, BWV. 891 ('00)
• [2-20] Fugue No. 22 in B flat minor, BWV. 891 ('00)
• [2-21] Prelude No. 23 in B major, BWV. 892 ('00)
• [2-22] Fugue No. 23 in B major, BWV. 892 ('00)
• [2-23] Prelude No. 24 in B minor, BWV. 893 ('00)
• [2-24] Fugue No. 24 in B minor, BWV. 893 ('00)

Disc.Reviews

After this 85th Birthday celebration recital in Carnegie Hall, Earl Wild turned over Carnegie's stage to a talented young 10-year old prodigy named Albert Wong who first played 'Happy Birthday', then continued with a substantial piece by Hummel, done with a fine virtuoso flair.

This marks the recording debut of Albert Wong, a 10-year old prodigy. Listening to these discs I was impressed by his mastery of the piano. Lines are clearly defined; the music has forward momentum, and Master Wong seems to have the structure of each Prelude and Fugue firmly in mind.

Albert Wong's Bach reflects a slightly odd personal serenity and self-confidence. He chooses modest tempos, plays evenly and with a sweet tone. His Bach flows softly, like a river. Yet he is able to sustain our interest in pieces such as the longish Prelude in E flat minor, and he keeps the lines of the, ensuing fugue clear. He articulates carefully, and accents discreetly. He has tact and a firm sense of what is important in Bach. The result is a lovely, always understated and restrained, rendition of The Well-Tempered Clavier.

Golden Youth Albert Wong's Bach-playing is not only technically secure - an amazing achievement for any pianist - but also musically mature. He conveys his awareness of every line in the music with just the right degree of emphasis, never exaggerating; his poise remains unruffled through the most difficult passages; his tempos are consistently sensible, neither held back for the sake of technical difficulty nor rushed due to immature enthusiasm. This would be an impressive debut for any musician; for a ten-year-old, it is astonishing, one of the best recordings of any musical prodigy ever made. Wong's own program notes are remarkably intelligent and interesting.

A young boy walked out with flowers, Mr. Wild introduced him as Albert Wong, a 10-year-old prodigy, and asked him to play. His first offering was "Happy Birthday." He then gave an astonishing performance of the Hummel Rondo. It is as hard to believe that Albert Wong is 10 as that Earl Wild is 85.

Albert Wong of Carrollton, Texas supplies genuinely special Bach playing, balancing rhythmic vitality with unassuming grace. Many big-name pianists could learn from this affectionate shaping and dovetailing of Bach's counterpoint and his sensitive response to harmonies.

I've just heard a new recording of Book 2 of the Well-Tempered Clavier, played by a remarkable 10-year old, Albert Wong on Ivory Classics.