The Well-Tempered Clavier II

Pianist Abdel Raman El Bacha has a strong following in his native Lebanon, his adopted France, and apparently in Japan, where he has made several recordings for the audiophile-oriented Octavia label. His artistry relies on subtle layerings and graceful turns of direction rather than on sheer power, and the Super Audio medium definitely showcases him at his best. This is true even in Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2, which is not usually given wide dynamic range. El Bacha has specialized in Romantic repertoire, and his Bach is definitely of the old school, with liberal use of the pedals, a range of pianistic articulation, and swelling climaxes in the music.

1
1
►
No. 1 in C major
Prelude I
 
03:07
2
1
►
No. 13 in F-sharp major
Prelude XIII
 
03:15
1
2
►
No. 1 in C major
Fugue I
 
01:47
2
2
►
No. 13 in F-sharp major
Fugue XIII
 
02:56
1
3
►
No. 2 in C minor
Prelude II
 
02:23
2
3
►
No. 14 in F-sharp minor
Prelude XIV
 
02:53
1
4
►
No. 2 in C minor
Fugue II
 
02:27
2
4
►
No. 14 in F-sharp minor
Fugue XIV
 
03:14
1
5
►
No. 3 in C-sharp major
Prelude III
 
01:54
2
5
►
No. 15 in G major
Prelude XV
 
01:55
1
6
►
No. 3 in C-sharp major
Fugue III
 
01:58
2
6
►
No. 15 in G major
Fugue XV
 
01:14
1
7
►
No. 4 in C-sharp minor
Prelude IV
 
05:45
2
7
►
No. 16 in G minor
Prelude XVI
 
03:32
1
8
►
No. 4 in C-sharp minor
Fugue IV
 
02:12
2
8
►
No. 16 in G minor
Fugue XV
 
03:35
1
9
►
No. 5 in D major
Prelude V
 
03:19
2
9
►
No. 17 in A-flat major
Prelude XVI
 
03:45
1
10
►
No. 5 in D major
Fugue V
 
03:03
2
10
►
No. 17 in A-flat major
Fugue XIV
 
02:22
1
11
►
No. 6 in D minor
Prelude VI
 
01:43
2
11
►
No. 18 in G-sharp minor
Prelude XVIII
 
02:18
1
12
►
No. 6 in D minor
Fugue VI
 
02:13
2
12
►
No. 18 in G-sharp minor
Fugue XVIII
 
05:57
1
13
►
No. 7 in E-flat major
Prelude VII
 
02:30
2
13
►
No. 19 in A major
Prelude XIX
 
02:25
1
14
►
No. 7 in E-flat major
Fugue VII
 
02:14
2
14
►
No. 19 in A major
Fugue XIX
 
01:38
1
15
►
No. 8 in D-sharp minor
Prelude VIII
 
02:39
2
15
►
No. 20 in A minor
Prelude XX
 
02:46
1
16
►
No. 8 in D-sharp minor
Fugue VIII
 
03:46
2
16
►
No. 20 in A minor
Fugue XX
 
02:06
1
17
►
No. 9 in E major
Prelude IX
 
02:57
2
17
►
No. 21 in B-flat major
Prelude XXI
 
05:36
1
18
►
No. 9 in E major
Fugue IX
 
03:20
2
18
►
No. 21 in B-flat major
Fugue XXI
 
03:18
1
19
►
No. 10 in E minor
Prelude X
 
02:44
2
19
►
No. 22 in B-flat minor
Prelude XXII
 
02:12
1
20
►
No. 10 in E minor
Fugue X
 
02:44
2
20
►
No. 22 in B-flat minor
Fugue XXII
 
04:44
1
21
►
No. 11 in F major
Prelude XI
 
03:20
2
21
►
No. 23 in B major
Prelude XXIII
 
02:09
1
22
►
No. 11 in F major
Fugue XI
 
02:03
2
22
►
No. 23 in B major
Fugue XXIII
 
04:05
1
23
►
No. 12 in F minor
Prelude XII
 
02:54
2
23
►
No. 24 in B minor
Prelude XXIV
 
02:32
1
24
►
No. 12 in F minor
Fugue XIII
 
02:02
2
24
►
No. 24 in B minor
Fugue XXIV
 
01:47