Bach: Art of Fugue

[lee]

I have to say I was not aware of this newly released recording before now:

www.musicweb-international.com/classrev/2017/Feb/Bach_art_MC5005.htm

since it is not listed in John Hunt's marvellous "Philharmonic Autocrat" (I have the first edition from 1993). Nor did the Art of Fugue feature in any of Karajan's post-war concerts as far as I am aware, although there was some talk of him recording it with his brother Wolfgang and indeed, there is in existence a recording by Wolfgang himself. So I have to say that I am somewhat dubious about the whole thing, although it looks authentic enough to me and thought my fellow Forumites may well be interested. Comments anyone ?

LD

[charlesb]

The recording is listed in the latest edition (the 4th edition) of Hunt's discography. However, this was printed before the CD was issued so Hunt can't have heard the recording.

[lee]

Thanks, Charles - it's so rare to get a Karajan release of a work he didn't otherwise record. Of course, I'll have to buy it now !!

LD

[charlesb]

If you are familiar with other recordings of "Art of Fugue", you may be surprised that Karajan's recording only lasts 47 minutes. Marriner's version (for instance) lasts 66 minutes. This is because Karajan only plays excerpts from the work.

If you have NOT heard "Art of Fugue" before, you may be surprised at the abrupt ending to the final movement. Bach was dictating the music on his death bed and died before the last movement was finished. So the music just stops abruptly.

[lee]

Mar 27, 2017 9:37:33 GMT 1 charlesb said:

If you are familiar with other recordings of "Art of Fugue", you may be surprised that Karajan's recording only lasts 47 minutes. Marriner's version (for instance) lasts 66 minutes. This is because Karajan only plays excerpts from the work.

If you have NOT heard "Art of Fugue" before, you may be surprised at the abrupt ending to the final movement. Bach was dictating the music on his death bed and died before the last movement was finished. So the music just stops abruptly.

Thanks for this Charles. I do not know the "Art of Fugue" so this recording will be my introduction to the piece. I think the review linked above makes mention that Karajan changes the order of some of the pieces, which may/may not address the "sudden" ending you mention, but I do seem to remember it mentioning that Karajan doesn't play the every number. Still, a pleasant surprise, if one still not available via Amazon UK.

LD

[philharmonie]

Actually, I had already been aware of this recording more than a year ago:

hvk1955.proboards.com/thread/460/first-release-bach-fugue-1944

The Herbert and Eliette von Karajan Institute also knew nothing about this little sensation. The ORF archive is supposed to be a copy on tape, so the CD was compared after my contact. The data matching confirms the originality. Actually a shame that the first publication abroad must take place and no one so far this discovery with the ORF appreciates and decently. Considering that his brother Wolfgang von Karajan was an organist and a specialist in the art of fugue at the same time.