Daniil Trifonov

BACH: The Art Of Life

Deutsche Grammophon, 2021

9/10

Listen to BACH: The Art Of Life

The pianist Daniil Trifonov takes on a very adventurous effort here, where he interprets 2 discs worth of compositions by J.S. Bach, as well as works by his 4 sons and family favorites.

Johann Christian Bach’s “Sonata No. 5 in A major” starts the listen with swift and incredibly complicated finger acrobatics that are as mesmerizing as they are memorable, and Wilhelm Friedemann Bach’s “Polonaise No. 8 in E minor” follows with a much calmer approach where the gentle keys emit a very dreamy climate that unfolds with much beauty.

Later on in the first disc, Johann Christoph Friedrich Bach’s “Allegretto con variazioni (“Ah, vous direai-je, maman”) displays extremely agile manipulation of the piano as many short pieces illustrate a strong attention to detail amid the flowing diversity.

The 2nd disc continues Johann Sebastian Bach’s “The Art Of Fugue BWV 1080”, which began on the first disc, and occupies many segments that dances around sublime, jumpy bouts of playfulness that puts an inimitable spin on the Bach masterpiece. Interestingly enough, the record exits on the very expressive reading of Dame Myra Hess’s transcription of “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring.

A Grammy Award winner, Trifonov absolutely proves that he’s worth the praise on a solo piano outing that spans many moods, weave in and out of spellbinding piano work, and certainly keeps the contributions from the Bach family alive with his inimitable spirit and flawless execution.

Travels well with: Hania & Dobrawa- Inner Symphonies; Buchbinder- Beethoven Piano Concertos