Bach: the French Suites

Another outstanding performance/recording of J.S. Bach by Papastefanou, this her second album for FHR, in another classic set of keyboard works by the composer, The French Suites. Papastefanou, Greece’s leading pianist, is now regarded worldwide as a leading exponent of Bach on the piano. Her previous recording for FHR, The Well-Tempered Clavier, 2018, did incredibly well with the music press and critics including: MusicWeb International RECORDING OF THE MONTH, The Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics Award: BEST RECORDING OF 2018, and Five Stars from BBC Music Magazine. On listening to Alexandra’s Well-Tempered Clavier recording, the great pianist Alfred Brendel commented: “I find Papastefanou’s Bach riveting. This is Bach playing on a high level – full of life, controlled in all strands of the music, pianistically immaculate, and highly personal. Here is a Bach player who has lived a lifetime with this music.’ Amongst the other works featured on the album is the Keyboard Sonata, BWV 964, Bach’s own transcription for keyboard of the Sonata in A minor, BWV 1003 for Solo Violin. This is rarely recorded on the piano, so it’s a welcome addition to the catalogue.