Angela's father is a famous organist Godfrey? Hewitt, he is also an expert in Bach's performance. Mother is a piano teacher and Angela's first teacher. Although she was invited to the concert at the age of 4, her father was in no hurry to get her on stage. He gave his first concert at the age of 9 and began to perform with the orchestra at the age of 10. French piano teacher Jean-Paul? Under the guidance of Cebeira, Angela began to play Goldberg Variations at the age of 16. From 17 to 26, Angela participated in many competitions. 1985 won the first prize of Toronto Bach Competition. Although the bonus is not much, she can get 25 concerts and the opportunity to record with DG company. 1986 phonograph commented: "If all pianists play Bach with such aura, sensitivity and pure musicality, then people will find no excuses for being picky."
As a Canadian pianist and Bach expert, people always ask her what she thinks of Gould.
"When I was a child, I always felt very strange when I saw it on TV. Even then, I could already hear his speed was very strange. He has become a famous pianist in Canada, but few people can imitate him. Personality, we are very different. Gould doesn't like red, but I like it very much. He hates sunlight and sunshine, and he hates southern things, such as Italian opera, but I like it very much. Our performances are very different. However, his Bach has attracted so many audiences that I admire him very much. "
She didn't leave. Glenn. Gould's way, but his influence on Angela is inevitable. Angela said, "When I was a child, I sat and watched him play and watched his hands flying over his nose. I never knew what he was talking about. But his performance was excellent. My earliest LP was his two and three songs. My brother and I often listen to him play the music in A minor, which is so fast that it is too late to reflect how he plays it. F major is slow and a little funny. However, I was impressed by his clear performance. I like his early performance "Variations on Goldberg". These recordings have a fearless spirit, which I value very much. "
Besides Gould, Angela often listens to the recordings of other Bach players. "Rosalyn? Turek's recordings are all perfectly structured and always know the direction of the concert. But for me, she is not lively enough. I like Georg? Bach played by Dehms is very human. Except Jean-Paul? Besides Cebeira, my father is also my first teacher. After listening to him play the organ, I learned a lot about playing, such as sentence breaking, fingering, how to alternate fingers and so on. I have been practicing these skills, because I seldom use the pedal, which was a necessary skill for organ players at that time. I also heard that Ralph, the harpsichord player? Kirkpatrick's performance. "
Modern piano players have different views on harpsichord. In Bach's interpretation, these two instruments have been well explained. Angela thinks that from a certain point of view, modern pianists need to understand the structure of harpsichord. "Bach mentioned in the preface of the work that the key to achieve a stable balance comes from the harpsichord. I have told many students in the master class that their fingers are weak. The correct position is also important. Just try it on the harpsichord and press it casually. It may be out of tune. What I care about is that there must be less movement. When playing fugue, there is no time to do too many actions. Besides, it never occurred to me that I was playing the piano myself. I think more about vocal music, violin and band. "
Angela is also very strict in her choice of piano. "I am very concerned about what kind of piano I use when playing Bach. I need high definition, high speed and reliable voice. And most importantly, the color will change, especially when the sound is weak. It is said that Bach likes the clavichord best, because it has the contrast of light and shade and the change of color. I always remember this. Before I finished the recording average law, I recorded all Hyperion recordings, using Steinway made 40 years ago. The sound is good and the mechanical design is excellent. I feel the notes beating under my fingers. I usually use the Fazioli piano at home, and the quality is also very good. "
Bach recorded by her has always been very popular, especially the keyboard concerto. Angela liked singing when she was very young. She plays Bach with a lot of singing. Fingers seem to be dancing, because she studied ballet for a long time when she was a child. Giving up dancing and playing the piano once made her feel sorry. Her arrangement in decorative sounds, free speed and so on is very distinctive. Angela said, "My style, especially slow motion, uses more sliding and more singing. I have heard a lot of harpsichords, but in fact, its expressive force is very limited, which is also the reason for the piano. " However, people always feel that since these works are written for the harpsichord, they must be a bit monotonous. Actually, it is not. Glenn. Bach played by Gould has a unique personality and great influence. Also a Canadian, Angela created her own style.
Bach's music score is very concise, often only notes and rhythms, and other speed and expression marks are few. This leaves a lot of room for players to play. Some people laugh that his soundtrack is like recipes and ingredients, and the tastes are often very different. Most players like to re-create in their own way. 1829, Mendelssohn played The Passion of Matthew. It is said that he used a huge band and choir, and his performance was quite romantic. One hundred years later, stokowski's interpretation of Bach was technical. Anton? Wilbur once thought Bach was the earliest composer with 12 notes. Landovska played Bach again on the harpsichord, thinking that this is the true nature of music. In an argument, she said to a colleague, "You continue to play in your way, and I will continue to play in Bach's way." Gould's Bach is a little neurotic. Now authentic performance is all the rage, and people can learn about Bach's musical instruments, the size of the band, the size of the choir and even the performance at that time. However, the performance of each group is still very different.
Angela is equivalent to Gould today. After winning the prize in 1985, 1999, London's Sunday Times regarded her as "the best Bach player of her generation". Partita and French Suite that she recorded in the company. Playing the modern concert piano, but it sounds quite antique. She not only gives full play to the color advantage of modern piano, but also does not abuse it, and always makes counterpoint and dance rhythm occupy the main position. Her explanation is academic and thoughtful, but it is not artificial. And not as unconventional as Gould. Her performance has an interesting sense of fluency. It is not surprising to find that its love for Bach runs through every note.
Judging from her performance in Variations on Goldberg. Bach's original intention is to make people feel refreshed, not excited. Agrich's explanation is reminiscent of candlelight through dim glass windows. Angela is reminiscent of court dancing. She plays Salabande and jig, and the keys are very elegant. In the aria, it is always full of warmth. Variation 23 is rarely as lively as her, said Angela, a game in which the left hand and the right hand chase each other. In the game, the counterpoint is also very clear.
Comparatively speaking, her interpretation is also the easiest one. The theme and counterpoint can be unfolded calmly. In the variation of 16, her speed is very slow, so that the theme can be fully developed. But Gould recorded at 8 1, and only the notes flowed quickly. Angela slowed down and highlighted the theme, so that the structure of the phrase came out with a solemn feeling of celebration.
As far as the overall structure is concerned, there are two ways to handle it. One is to form a big arch that is consistent with the rhythm of clues. For example, Gould version 8 1 One is to connect individual works in series, with themes and * * *. Like orphan's 55-year recording. Angela is the latter, but she didn't break up her works like Gould did in 1955, which not only showed the characteristics of each variation, but also took care of the overall style. This method often makes Angela's performance unexpected. When you thought she was going to deal with the next mutation like this, she changed and took another speed and different contrast. That sounds novel.
Angela didn't repeat the live performance, but it was recorded.
Even listeners who like the harpsichord version can try this version. It is between ancient music and modern interpretation, but it combines the advantages of both.
Besides Bach, she began to play coupland. Bach was a contemporary composer, but her keyboard works are much more complicated and have always been the domain of harpsichord players. In 2003, Angela published coupland's music. Let many people begin to be interested in this composer.