Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier I & II

The German pianist Walter Gieseking was born in Lyon in 1895, and died in London in 1956. Trained in Naples and Hanover, he served in the First World War, then resumed his career touring Europe and gained a reputation as one of the most remarkable pianists
of his generation. His performances became famous for their refinement and exquisite command of nuance. His repertoire ranged from the Austro-German greats to the French
impressionists, especially the music of Debussy. Gieseking was also a champion of new music, and possessed a photographic memory of
scores. In 1950, to mark the 200th anniversary of Bach's death, he made many recordings for Saar Radio, which included all of Bach's keyboard music. The performance on these discs was never intended for commercial release, and Gieseking had never played the
entire Well-Tempered Clavier in concert, but it has all the hallmarks of his style: rhythmic freedom, a feeling of improvisation (entirely germane to Bach), and a sense of fluidity.