Hyperion’s Bach Transcriptions series shows Bach through the fascinating prism of the Romantic musical mind. This latest volume presents the complete transcriptions by Saint-Saëns, and the programme is interspersed with transcriptions by the elder composer’s friend and disciple, Isidore Philipp. Saint-Saëns was one of the many composers inspired by the continuing publications from the Bach-Gesellschaft, which made many of Bach’s works available in print for the first time, particularly the extraordinary church cantatas. His transcriptions are of particular interest due to his choice of unfamiliar music that was not originally conceived for a keyboard instrument, and the care with which he has made the transcriptions. These are superbly effective piano realizations achieved with the minimum of intervention.

Hyperion is thrilled to present the young Bulgarian pianist Nadejda Vlaeva in her label debut. She performs with a palpable energy and impressive technical assurance.