Why I don’t play Bach
October 31st, 2008 | Pianist's life | No Response | By Pierre-Arnaud
Some time ago, I was asked a really interesting question. Uncomfortable too : Why don’t you play Bach? I didn’t noticed this lack in my programs, and after having taken a look at my past programs, I indeed found out that Bach was reported missing. However, I’m fond of his music, and, as many pianists do, I grew up with the two books of Preludes and Fugues.
It wouldn’t be true to say that I don’t play Bach . I play Bach, but never in front of an audience: it’s a composer who belongs to my own private world. He has been following me since the beginning, and I only play it now for fun, trying to push my thought a little further. But for the moment, I just don’t feel ready to perform it.
Bach’s Music passed through ages and is still young and fresh. Forgotten for a while and rediscovered by Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, it has always been played since then. Among my favorites interpreters, I should quote Gould, but also Edwin Fischer and Wanda Landowska. Hard to stand apart from such musicians, they already said a lot about this music.
Bach needs time and devotion, but the reward is tremendous.
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