Fresh vitality and a sense of adventure. Noted for his idiosyncratic and probing performances, British keyboard player and conductor Richard Egarr continues his Bach cycle with these captivating readings of the complete French Suites, BWV812-817. “High octane, muscular, a rush of blood to the head... Moments of calm between the storm ... were suddenly stark, raw and searching. … I was gripped by the energy of it all, by the urgency of the ornamentation, by the aching crunches in the Allemandes.” (HERALD SCOTLAND, concert review)
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH [1685-1750] French Suite No. 1 in D Minor, BWV 812 · I. Allemande (4'14) · II. Courante (2'00) · III. Sarabande (2'43) · IV. Menuet I & II (3'19) · V. Gigue (2'57) French Suite No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 813 · I. Allemande (3'21) · II. Courante (2'11) · III. Sarabande (3'29) · IV. Air (1'26) · V. Menuet I (1'30) · VI. Gigue (2'20) French Suite No. 3 in B Minor, BWV 814 · I. Allemande (3'49) · II. Courante (2'18) · III. Sarabande (3'18) · IV. Menuet I & II (Trio) (3'44) · V. Angloise (Gavotte) (1'43) · VI. Gigue (2'28)
· V. Menuet II (1'17) French Suite No. 4 in E-Flat Major, BWV 815 · I. Allemande (3'30) · II. Courante (2'04) · III. Sarabande (3'17) · IV. Gavotte (1'24) · V. Air (1'53) · VI. Menuet (0'56) · VII. Gigue (2'32) French Suite No. 5 in G Major, BWV 816 · I. Allemande (3'35) · II. Courante (1'54) · III. Sarabande (4'16) · IV. Gavotte (1'07) · V. Bourrée (1'28) · VI. Loure (2'14) · VII. Gigue (3'51) French Suite No. 6 in E Major, BWV 817 · I. Allemande (3'46) · II. Courante (1'43) · III. Sarabande (2'55) · IV. Gavotte (1'06) · V. Polonaise (1'40) · VI. Menuet (1'18) · VII. Bourrée (1'50) · VIII. Gigue (2'43) French Suite No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 813/II · II. Courante (after the autograph, Klavierbüchlein 1722) (1'50) · II. Courante (after the copy by H. N. Gerber) (1'58) · II. Courante (after the copy by Anna Magdalena Bach, Klavierbüchlein 1725) (2'05)
