Mahan Esfahani – Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 1 – CD

Mahan Esfahani’s hugely ambitious complete Bach keyboard project reaches its summit with ‘Book 1’ of ‘The Well-Tempered Clavier’. Bach wrote his seminal ’48 Preludes & Fugues’ with a harpsichord in mind; this is a rare chance to hear the music as intended. Recorded on a German double-manual harpsichord built by Huw Saunders and based on an instrument thought to have belonged to Bach. Mahan’s discography has thus far garnered a Gramophone Award, two BBC Music Magazine Awards, a Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik, Opus Klassik Recording of the Year, Diapason d’Or, Choc de Classica and an ICMA, among many other awards.

Disc: 1
1 Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV846
2 Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV846
3 Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV847
4 Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV847
5 Prelude No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV848
6 Fugue No. 3 in C-sharp Major, BWV848
7 Prelude No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV849
8 Fugue No. 4 in C-sharp Minor, BWV849
9 Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV850
10 Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV850
11 Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV851
12 Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV851
13 Prelude No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV852
14 Fugue No. 7 in E-flat Major, BWV852
15 Prelude No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV853
16 Fugue No. 8 in E-flat Minor, BWV853
17 Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV854
18 Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV854
19 Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV855
20 Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV855
21 Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV856
22 Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV856
23 Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV857
24 Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV857

Disc: 2
1 Prelude No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV858
2 Fugue No. 13 in F-sharp Major, BWV858
3 Prelude No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV859
4 Fugue No. 14 in F-sharp Minor, BWV859
5 Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV860
6 Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV860
7 Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV861
8 Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV861
9 Prelude No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV862
10 Fugue No. 17 in A-flat Major, BWV862
11 Prelude No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV863
12 Fugue No. 18 in G-sharp Minor, BWV863
13 Prelude No. 19 in a Major, BWV864
14 Fugue No. 19 in a Major, BWV864
15 Prelude No. 20 in a Minor, BWV865
16 Fugue No. 20 in a Minor, BWV865
17 Prelude No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV866
18 Fugue No. 21 in B-flat Major, BWV866
19 Prelude No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV867
20 Fugue No. 22 in B-flat Minor, BWV867
21 Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV868
22 Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV868
23 Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV869
24 Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV869
25 Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV846 (Reprise)