In a bonus DVD accompanying András Schiff’s Bach recital at Leipzig’s Protestant Reformed Church, the pianist explains how the French Suites were likely conceived to be played at home, on the clavichord, for perhaps four people in the room, whereas the Overture in the French Style is essentially orchestral music recast for keyboard. A church and a small audience may not exactly constitute house music, yet the intimate scale of Schiff’s performances certainly reflect his words. Although Schiff’s tempi generally differ little when compared alongside his 1991 Decca versions (10/93), the phrasing boasts more finely tuned legato/detached differentiation, with leaner textures and more specificity in regard to following contrapuntal lines through to their final destination.

You particularly notice that in the Sarabandes, which are less rounded and tapered now, and more line-oriented, without sacrificing one iota of expressivity (the C minor is a good example). The Gigues remain just as buoyant, yet with an added sense of “air” around the notes, as if Schiff were not interpreting Bach on the piano so much as through the piano. Perhaps this has to do with Schiff’s conception of certain lines as played by other instruments. True, we can split hairs over this movement or that movement, such as in my preference for the 1991 E flat Courante’s more propulsive bass-lines over 2010’s lighter manifestation, where, by contrast, the French Overture’s Courante’s bassoon-like bass-lines are more in the forefront this time around.

The bottom line (I swear, I only saw the bad pun right after I typed it!) is that Schiff can play all six suites and the more demanding French Overture in one concert and sustain a level of artistry, concentration, stamina and attention to detail as few pianists of his or any generation have accomplished. And if that weren’t enough, Schiff plays the entire Italian Concerto as an encore. The varied and unobtrusive camerawork serves the music, the artist and the occasion well, as does the clear and resplendent surround-sound audio.