Artist: Alexandra Papastefanou
Title: J.S. Bach: The English Suites, BWV 806–81
Format: 2 CDs, high-resolution audio (24‑bit / 96 kHz)
Instrument: Fazioli F278 piano
Recording location: Alternative Stage, Greek National Opera, Athens
Recording dates: 1–2 May 2024
Produced and edited by: Alexandra Papastefanou
Engineered by: Petros Petropoulos
Mastered by: John Croft
Label: First Hand Records
Release year: 2025
By Damián Autorino
Editor at Moto Perpetuo
The English Suites occupy a particular place in Bach’s output: earlier than the Partitas, more expansive than the French Suites, and marked by the unusual presence of a prelude in each of the six works. While individual suites—especially Nos. 2 and 3—are occasionally heard in concert, the full cycle is rarely recorded. In this new release, Greek pianist Alexandra Papastefanou presents the complete set, performed on a Fazioli concert grand and recorded at the Greek National Opera’s Alternative Stage.
Papastefanou approaches these works with clarity and expressive balance. Contrapuntal lines remain transparent, with a strong sense of internal dialogue. In slower movements such as the Sarabande of Suite No. 3, her phrasing is inward and dignified. By contrast, in faster movements like the gigue of Suite No. 6, her playing combines rhythmic sharpness with structural awareness, delivering a performance full of vitality
This recording is shaped by Papastefanou’s deep engagement with Bach’s world. In addition to her activity as a pianist, she is the author of J.S. Bach: The Musician of the Infinite (2022), a book that explores the composer’s aesthetic language and the interpretative questions it raises. That perspective resonates throughout the album.
This is a recording shaped not just by excellent technique, but by an artist who understands the composer before imposing her own vision. A technically fluent reading, yes—but also one shaped by knowledge, conviction, and a genuine desire to communicate.
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