To end this week our Video of the Day is a rather different performance by Alice Sara Ott of Bach’s C major Prelude from the first book of the Well-Tempered Clavier. What makes this unique is the placement of felt sheets between the hammers and strings of the upright piano - this creates a softer and more muted sound. This recording features on the newly released deluxe edition of her album ‘Echoes of life’ produced by Deutsche Grammophon. Two performances of the prelude bookend this album, this one on a prepared upright piano acts suitably as a literal ‘prelude’ and then to finish, another performance on a grand piano - an interesting contrast!

Alice Sara Ott has also been announced as Resident Artist at the Southbank Centre 2023/24 where she will be giving the UK premier of Bryce Dessner’s Piano Concerto.

‘Echoes of Life - The Deluxe Edition’ (Deutsche Grammophon) is out now on CD and digital. You can listen to the full album below via Apple Music: