Händel, Georg Friedrich/Haydn, Franz Joseph: Hewitt Plays Handel/Haydn (Hyperion Audio CD)

Recorded and released in the ‘anniversary year’ of both Handel and Haydn, Hyperion’s Record of the Month is an effusive celebration of the two composers, performed by an artist whose renditions of 17th- and 18th-century keyboard works on the piano have received the highest possible acclaim. This recital is a welcome gesture from the ‘high priestess of Bach’ (Sunday Times). As you will hear, Hewitt’s trademark clarity of line, singing tone and instinctive musicality areperfectly suited to the urbane elegance of the works recorded here.

In a fascinating and personal booklet note, Angela Hewitt takes the listener through her own childhood experiences of the works of Handel and Haydn that led her to select the works for this disc, and includes an interesting discussion of historical performance practice. This is an enchanting release that will delight Angela’s legion of fans.

‘Her best Bach yet … not everyone can improve on the best, but it looks as if Angela Hewitt might have done just that … this is a defining moment in the performance history of the ‘48’ … Hewitt’s second thoughts, enhanced by technically outstanding recording, hold me totally enthralled’ (BBC Music Magazine)

‘Angela Hewitt’s Bach has long been a thing of wonder … this four-CD set of both books of Das Wohltemperierte Klavier again illustrates how she can deploy the timbres and technical attributes of the piano to animate the music in the most sensitive way. Her palette of colours is judiciously chosen, her variety of touch and dynamics gauged so that each prelude and fugue has a character of its own and contributes something
special to Bach’s iridescent kaleidoscope of musical invention’ (The Daily Telegraph)