In January 2012, the nestor of early music in the Netherlands: Gustav Leonhardt died. Together with Harnoncourt, he was one of the pioneers of authentic performance practice. Leonhardt was a gentleman at the keyboard. His aristocratic mastery of the French harpsichordists alone, with all those intricate decorations and declamations, was unparalleled. And yet he regarded Bach as the greatest composer
… ever. His music is incredibly versatile, interesting, intelligent. (…) What's the secret of that? If we only knew! ', Said Gustav Leonhardt in an interview with the Reformatorisch Dagblad. This reissue, undoubtedly prompted by the publicity surrounding Leonhardt's death, includes performances of Das Wohltemperierte Klavier, Die Kunst Der Fuge and the Goldberg Variationen. The sunken performance of the Goldberg Variations - quite the opposite of Glenn Gould's electrifying approach - still sounds magical. Leonhardt's recording of Die Kunst Der Fuge would have been the best ever, if only he had taken the trouble to include the (unfinished) Fuga a 3 soggetti. Unfortunately, this release lacks information from the original booklets. Gustav Leonhardt's essay on Die Kunst Der Fuge, for example, was very informative, whether they agreed with the master or not. (HJ) Gustav Leonhardt's essay on Die Kunst Der Fuge, for example, was very informative, whether they agreed with the master or not. (HJ) Gustav Leonhardt's essay on Die Kunst Der Fuge, for example, was very informative, whether they agreed with the master or not. (HJ)more
