The harpsichord world has undergone major philosophical and scholarly changes since Wanda Landowska’s heyday, but her artistry remains timeless. Listen to her impeccable trills, her perfectly proportioned phrasing in slower movements, the rhythmic verve that enlivens her ornaments, her multi-hued articulation, plus her unerring instinct for choosing the most dance-friendly tempos, and you’re bound to get closer to Bach’s spirit. Despite the cramped sonics of the original and none-too-crisp string section, Landowska’s classic recording of the D minor Concerto sounds fuller and more vibrant in Seth Winner’s transfer than the one Mark Obert-Thorn made for Biddulph in 1998. Indeed, Winner’s remastering of the E major English Suite sounds radically different from his previous Pearl effort a decade ago. Surface noise is virtually obliterated, with the bass and treble registers more judiciously equalized than before.
Winner’s D major Toccata transfer is as much a revelation. A live Second English Suite recorded off the air from a 1947 Frick Collection recital has the advantage of all the repeats Landowska did not observe in her 1936 studio traversal, and a slightly freer, more three-dimensional Sarabande. Producers Denise Restout and Teri Noel Towe provide authoritative, informative annotations. In sum, a first-rate reissue on every level, and highly recommended even if you already have one or two of these performances in other CD transfers.
