Special offer. Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
The pleasures of this CD are manifold, thanks to Aimard's super-light touch and his subtle deployment of infinitesimal gradations of volume and tempo...And when he goes exceptionally fast -...
Special offer. Bach: Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2
Pierre-Laurent Aimard (piano)
Purchase product
The pleasures of this CD are manifold, thanks to Aimard's super-light touch and his subtle deployment of infinitesimal gradations of volume and tempo...And when he goes exceptionally fast -...
About
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, one of today's most visionary pianists, presents the second book of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, a cornerstone of the piano repertoire. Following his acclaimed interpretation of Book I (released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2014), Aimard brings his signature clarity, insight, and depth to this second collection of 24 Preludes and Fugues, exploring Bach's extraordinary harmonic and contrapuntal imagination. With a lifelong dedication to both early and contemporary music, Aimard approaches the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II not merely as a historical masterpiece but as a vibrant and endlessly inventive work. His performance highlights Bach's ability to blend expressive lyricism with intellectual rigor, creating a deeply engaging and illuminating listening experience.
A renowned champion of twentieth-century music, Pierre-Laurent Aimard has released multiple acclaimed albums in his exclusive contract with PENTATONE, including Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux (2018) and Visions de l'Amen (2022), along with Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata & Eroica Variations (2021). He also joined Tamara Stefanovich in Etudes and Frames (2023), with music by Vassos Nicolaou, recorded Bartok's Piano Concertos with the San Francisco Symphony and Esa-Pekka Salonen (2023), Schubert: Landler (2024), and Kurtag: Jatekok (2025).
Contents and tracklist
Awards and reviews
February 2026
The pleasures of this CD are manifold, thanks to Aimard's super-light touch and his subtle deployment of infinitesimal gradations of volume and tempo...And when he goes exceptionally fast - as he quite often does his - playing still has clarity, grace and at times a touch of mischief.
December 2025
the pervading impression is of whitelight clarity. Aimard's gift for contrapuntal transparency is exceptional, and it is hard to imagine anyone performing a fugue with greater focus, achieved by meticulous internal balancing of lines and the textureclearing techniques of minimal pedalling and neatly chiselled articulation.