Artist(s): Zhu, Xiao-Mei
Label: Accentus Music
Genre: Instrumental
Period: Baroque
Catalogue No: ACC-30428
Barcode: 4260234832051
Release Date: 10/2024

BACH, J.S.: English Suites Nos. 1-6, BWV 806-811 (Xiao-Mei Zhu)

After a six-year hiatus, acclaimed pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei returns with a deeply personal and masterful recording of J.S. Bach’s English Suites. This release completes her heartfelt journey through Bach’s piano compositions, marking another significant milestone in her extraordinary career.

This project is the culmination of years of meticulous preparation and an intimate relationship with the music. Zhu Xiao-Mei’s approach is characterized by a profound connection to each piece, allowing her to bring out the subtleties and nuances that make Bach’s work so timeless. Her dedication to living with the music day-by-day ensures a performance that is both authentic and deeply resonant.

The English Suites, with their blend of lively orchestral and delicate intimate moments, have a special place in Zhu XiaoMei’s heart. She describes them as “a music of intimacy,” making this recording particularly unique. Despite the challenges, including pandemic-related delays and finding the perfect piano, her dedication to authenticity shines through in every note.

Zhu Xiao-Mei’s insightful and sensitive performance invites you into a world of subtlety and depth, offering a refreshing contrast to today’s fast-paced musical landscape. This album is not just a completion of her Bach recordings but a milestone that underscores her exceptional artistry and unwavering devotion to Bach’s timeless music.

Tracklist

Disc 1
Bach, Johann Sebastian
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
1 I. Prélude 03:21
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
2 II. Allemande 02:27
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
3 III. Courante 01:47
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
4 IV. Sarabande 03:17
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
5 V. Gavotte I 00:47
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
6 VI. Gavotte II - Gavotte I (da capo) 01:13
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
7 VII. Gigue 02:09
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
8 I. Prélude 02:01
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
9 II. Allemande 03:12
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
10 III. Courante I 00:50
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
11 IV. Courante II 01:13
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
12 IV. Double I 01:08
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
13 IV. Double II 01:12
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
14 V. Sarabande 02:29
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
15 VI. Bourrée I 01:04
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
16 VII. Bourrée II - Bourrée I (da capo) 01:52
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
17 VIII. Gigue 02:01
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
18 I. Prélude 05:00
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
19 II. Allemande 02:26
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
20 III. Courante 01:17
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
21 IV. Sarabande 02:51
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
22 V. Bourrée I 01:08
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
23 VI. Bourrée II - Bourrée I (da capo) 01:42
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
24 VII. Gigue 03:26
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
Disc 2
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
1 I. Prélude 05:11
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
2 II. Allemande 02:43
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
3 III. Courante 01:34
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
4 IV. Sarabande 01:42
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
5 V. Passepied I 01:13
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
6 VI. Passepied II - Passepied I (da capo) 01:42
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
7 VII. Gigue 03:23
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
8 I. Prélude 04:49
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
9 II. Allemande 02:48
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
10 III. Courante 00:50
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
11 IV. Sarabande 01:45
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
12 V. Menuet I 00:53
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
13 VI. Menuet II - Menuet I (da capo) 01:31
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
14 VII. Gigue 02:33
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
15 I. Prélude 08:36
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
16 II. Allemande 03:10
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
17 III. Courante 01:50
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
18 IV. Sarabande 01:50
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
19 IV. Double 00:57
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
20 V. Gavotte I 01:06
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
21 VI. Gavotte II - Gavotte I (da capo) 01:49
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)
22 VII. Gigue 02:42
Zhu, Xiao-Mei (piano)

Total Playing Time: 01:44:30