Deutsche Grammophon is proud to announce that Murray Perahia, one of the great musicians of our time, has signed to the yellow label. The American pianist intends to record key works from his repertoire, thereby preserving insights gained over the course of a career that began in the mid-1960s and continues to flourish as he approaches his 70th birthday next April.
[…]
This significant new partnership, destined to deliver interpretations of the highest artistic calibre to the DG catalogue, will be launched this autumn with the release of Bach’s French Suites. Perahia has always felt a great affinity with the music of Bach, having played some of his pieces since childhood and been powerfully influenced by a performance he attended at the age of fifteen of the St Matthew Passion conducted by Pablo Casals. He also found solace in studying the composer on a daily basis during a period in which illness prevented him from playing. He sees the French Suites as “Bach on the highest level”, adding, “I don’t think Bach wrote one note that didn’t have wider meanings and that wasn’t to be tackled with all one’s heart and soul.”
Interesting switch. At his age, it’s a bit surprising to change labels, and this suggests that he doesn’t get the support he needs at Sony.
I don’t usually post stuff like this, but I very much like Murray Perahia, and heard him play a few months ago, and have tickets to hear him perform Beethoven’s 5th piano concerto next year. I like his Bach, and it would be good to hear him record more.
I’d like to hear him complete his Beethoven piano sonata traversal. It’s hard not to respect someone who says “I don’t often record Beethoven because I don’t understand him.” I’d rather have more sonatas than piano concertos.
I’d like to hear him complete his Beethoven piano sonata traversal. It’s hard not to respect someone who says “I don’t often record Beethoven because I don’t understand him.” I’d rather have more sonatas than piano concertos.