Description
Pierre-Laurent Aimard, one of today's most visionary pianists, presents the second book of Johann Sebastian Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier, a cornerstone of the piano repertoire. Following his acclaimed interpretation of Book I (released on Deutsche Grammophon in 2014), Aimard brings his signature clarity, insight, and depth to this second collection of 24 Preludes and Fugues, exploring Bach's extraordinary harmonic and contrapuntal imagination. With a lifelong dedication to both early and contemporary music, Aimard approaches the Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II not merely as a historical masterpiece but as a vibrant and endlessly inventive work. His performance highlights Bach's ability to blend expressive lyricism with intellectual rigor, creating a deeply engaging and illuminating listening experience.A renowned champion of twentieth-century music, Pierre-Laurent Aimard has released multiple acclaimed albums in his exclusive contract with PENTATONE, including Messiaen's Catalogue d'Oiseaux (2018) and Visions de l'Amen (2022), along with Beethoven's Hammerklavier Sonata & Eroica Variations (2021). He also joined Tamara Stefanovich in Etudes and Frames (2023), with music by Vassos Nicolaou, recorded Bartok's Piano Concertos with the San Francisco Symphony and Esa-Pekka Salonen (2023), Schubert: Landler (2024), and Kurtag: Jatekok (2025).
Tracklist:
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 1 in C Major, BWV 870
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 2 in C Minor, BWV 871
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 872
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 3 in C-Sharp Major, BWV 872
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 873
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 4 in C-Sharp Minor, BWV 873
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 5 in D Major, BWV 874
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 6 in D Minor, BWV 875
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 876
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 7 in E-Flat Major, BWV 876
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 877
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 8 in D-Sharp Minor, BWV 877
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 9 in E Major, BWV 878
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 10 in E Minor, BWV 879
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 11 in F Major, BWV 880
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 12 in F Minor, BWV 881
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 882
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 13 in F-Sharp Major, BWV 882
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 883
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 14 in F-Sharp Minor, BWV 883
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 15 in G Major, BWV 884
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 16 in G Minor, BWV 885
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 17 in A-Flat Major, BWV 886
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 887
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 18 in G-Sharp Minor, BWV 887
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 19 in A Major, BWV 888
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, BWV 889
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 890
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 21 in B-Flat Major, BWV 890
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 891
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 22 in B-Flat Minor, BWV 891
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 23 in B Major, BWV 892
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Prelude No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893
- Well-Tempered Clavier, Book 2~Fugue No. 24 in B Minor, BWV 893
UPC: 8717306264624
Label: Pentatone
Release Date: 10.24.25
Format: CD
