Bach: Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos David Fray

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750): Concerto for 4 Pianos in A Minor, BWV 1065:
• 1 Bach, JS: Concerto for 4 Pianos in A Minor, BWV 1065: I. Allegro 03:57
• 2 Bach, JS: Concerto for 4 Pianos in A Minor, BWV 1065: II. Largo 02:53
• 3 Bach, JS: Concerto for 4 Pianos in A Minor, BWV 1065: III. Allegro 03:13
• Concerto for 3 Pianos in D Minor, BWV 1063:
• 4 Bach, JS: Concerto for 3 Pianos in D Minor, BWV 1063: I. Allegro 05:17
• 5 Bach, JS: Concerto for 3 Pianos in D Minor, BWV 1063: II. Alla Siciliana 03:53
• 6 Bach, JS: Concerto for 3 Pianos in D Minor, BWV 1063: III. Allegro 05:00
• Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1062:
• 7 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1062: I. Vivace 03:23
• 8 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1062: II. Largo ma non tanto 06:14
• 9 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1062: III. Allegro assai 04:26
• Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Major, BWV 1061:
• 10 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Major, BWV 1061: I. Allegro 07:18
• 11 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Major, BWV 1061: II. Adagio ovvero largo 04:37
• 12 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Major, BWV 1061: III. Fuga 05:30
• Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1060:
• 13 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1060: I. Allegro 04:55
• 14 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1060: II. Adagio 05:06
• 15 Bach, JS: Concerto for 2 Pianos in C Minor, BWV 1060: III. Allegro 03:17
• Total Runtime 01:08:59

Info for Bach: Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos

The music on this album gives rise to two intriguing questions. Firstly, are these concertos original Bachian creations? Secondly, should they be played on modern pianos. The two issues are in fact closely linked by the idea of transcription.

Four of the keyboard concertos recorded here derive either from works originally composed by Bach for other instruments (this is true of the Concerto in C minor, BWV 1062 for two harpsichords – a transcription of the celebrated and exceptional Concerto in D minor for two violins, BWV 1043), or from works by Bach of which we are more or less aware, but whose initial versions have not survived. This applies to the Concerto in C major, BWV 1061 and the Concerto in C minor, BWV 1060. As for the Concerto in A minor, BWV 1065 for four harpsichords, it is a reworking of the tenth concerto from Vivaldi’s L’Estro armonico, op.3, for four violins.

David Fray, piano
Jacques Rouvier, piano
Audrey Vigoureux, piano
Emmanuel Christien, piano
Orchestre national du Capitole de Toulouse

David Fray
Described as “Perhaps the most inspired, certainly the most original Bach player of his generation,” David Fray maintains an active career as a recitalist, soloist and chamber musician worldwide. He has collaborated with leading orchestras and distinguished conductors such as Marin Alsop, Pierre Boulez, Semyon Bychkov, Christoph Eschenbach, Asher Fisch, Daniele Gatti, Paavo Järvi , Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Yannick Nézet-Séguin and Jaap van Zweden among others. Orchestral highlights in Europe have included performances with the London Philharmonic, Royal Concertgebouw, Bayerische Rundfunk, Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Deutsche Sinfonie Orchester, Salzburg Mozarteum, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala, Orchestre de Paris, Orchestre National de France and Orchestre de l’Opéra national de Paris. David Fray made his US debut in 2009 with the Cleveland Orchestra which was followed by performances with the Boston Symphony, San Francisco Symphony, New York Philharmonic, Chicago Symphony and the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Recital debuts followed in Carnegie Hall, at the Mostly Mozart Festival in New York and the Chicago Symphony Hall.

In 2014-15, Mr. Fray will perform with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen, Academy of St. Martin in the Fields, London Philharmonic, São Paulo Symphony Orchestra, Budapest Festival Orchestra, Orchestre de Paris, Tonhalle Zurich, Orchestra del Teatro alla Scala and the Vienna Symphony Orchestra. Among this season’s recital appearances are concerts at the Theatre de Champs Élysées in Paris, the Philharmonie in Berlin and the Van Cliburn Foundation in Fort Worth, Texas. In Chamber music Mr. Fray will partner again with Renaud Capuçon playing sonatas by Bach and Beethoven.

Mr. Fray holds multiple awards including the prestigious German Echo Klassik Prize for Instrumentalist of the Year and the Young Talent Award from the Ruhr Piano Festival. In 2008 he was named Newcomer of the Year by the BBC Music Magazine. At the 2004 Montreal International Music Competition, Mr. Fray received both the Second Grand Prize and the Prize for the best interpretation of a Canadian work.

An exclusive Warner Classics artist, David Fray recorded his first CD with works of Bach and Boulez to great critical acclaim. The disc was praised as the “best record of the year” by the London Times and Le Soir. Mr. Fray’s second release was a recording of Bach keyboard concerti with the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen awarded by the German Recording Academy followed by Schubert’s Moments Musicaux and Impromptus. Mr. Fray’s most recent releases include a Schubert recital, Mozart piano concerti with the Philharmonia Orchestra and Jaap van Zweden and Bach Partitas Nos. 2 and 6 along with Toccata in C minor. In 2008 the TV network ARTE +7 presented a documentary on David Fray directed by the renowned French director Bruno Monsaingeon. The film “David Fray records Johann Sebastian Bach” was subsequently released on DVD.

David Fray started taking piano lessons at the age of four. He furthered his studies with Jacques Rouvier at the National Superior Conservatory of Music in Paris where he currently resides.

Booklet for Bach: Concertos for 2, 3 and 4 Pianos