Search - J.S. Bach, Guilou :: Organ Works of Bach

Wonderful, with one notable exception in BWV 565

D. Lai | El Cajon, CA United States | 05/28/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This massive 6 disc set is, on the whole, a marvelous addition to any organ lover's collection. Jean Guillou's virtuosic performances are documented beautifully on these discs, with the Kleuker-Steinmeyer Organ of the Tonhalle (Zurich) sounding out with incredible power and the Kleuker Organ of Eglise Notre Dame des Neiges (Alpe d'Huez, France) with balanced splendor.



The Goldberg Variations, originally composed for harpsichord and transcribed for organ by Jean Guillou himself, are a real treat in this set.



Guillou is a consummate professional and Bach scholar - and it shows in his playing. However, for my tastes, his virtuosity gets a little out of hand on the most famous of organ pieces, the Toccata and Fugue in D minor (BWV 565). Guillou plays too freely with tempo in the opening Toccata that anyone looking for a "classic" version of the piece will be sorely disappointed and have to look elsewhere for a more "in tempo" version of the classic."