The second album for FHR by the award winning, leading interpreter of J.S. Bach on piano: Alexandra Papastefanou. Here, we are presented with another classic set of keyboard works by the composer, The French Suites. Papastefanou, Greece’s leading pianist, is now regarded worldwide as a leading exponent of Bach on the piano. Her previous recording for FHR (The Well-Tempered Clavier, 2018 [FHR65], did incredibly well with the music press and critics (MusicWeb International RECORDING OF THE MONTH The Union of Greek Theatre and Music Critics Award: BEST RECORDING OF 2018, 5 stars from BBC Music Magazine).

On listening to Alexandra’s Well-Tempered Clavier recording, the great pianist Alfred Brendel commented: ‘I find Papastefanou’s Bach riveting. This is Bach playing on a high level - full of life, controlled in all strands of the music, pianistically immaculate, and highly personal. Here is a Bach player who has lived a lifetime with this music.’

Amongst the other works featured on the album is the Keyboard Sonata, BWV 964, Bach’s own transcription for keyboard of the Sonata in A minor, BWV 1003 for Solo Violin. This is rarely recorded on the piano, so it’s a welcome addition to the catalogue.