Johann Sebastian Bach: The Well-Tempered Clavier. Evelyne Crochet, piano.

Buzz: Bach wrote many works for the keyboard—French and English Suites, Toccatas, Partitas, Inventions and Sinfonias, the Goldberg Variations, Fantasies etc., and, of course, numerous works for the organ. Yet in none of these magnificent works does one sense the intimate nature, the transcendent message of The Well-Tempered-Clavier. It stands as a profound expression of spirituality, of humanity, and one cannot help but think that this huge work represents a very personal account of the composer’s philosophy, perhaps a look back on his own life journey. With its absence of theatricality, with its depth and straightforward simplicity, the The Well-Tempered-Clavier takes us beyond the instrumental brilliance of Bach’s other keyboard pieces (not to diminish their own depth and greatness) as we sense its authentic meaning.

Evelyne Crochet's repertoire covers a wide scope, spanning over all periods in music. She performed Bach’s whole Well-Tempered Clavier, Debussy’s complete piano works, and music up to our present time. Her early recordings in Russia, Mozart’s Sonata K 310 and Beethoven’s Sonata Opus 110 were followed by the first complete recording of Gabriel Fauré’s piano works. This Extensive project was received with unanimous international acclaim (the New York Times described it as “a labor of love”). For Philips Records, she recorded the world premiere of newly discovered works by Erik Satie, albums of Bach Transcriptions and Schubert’s music and, with Alfred Brendel, she recorded Schubert’s four-hand piano duets. A native of France, she lives and teaches in New York.