Rare Bach Performances Coming to Northbrook Library
Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier comes to life at the Northbrook Public Library Auditorium in two stellar Parisian Salon Concert performances. Pianist George Lepauw will perform all 24 preludes and fugues from J.S. Bach's The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book I on Friday, August 7 at 7:30pm, followed by a full performance of The Well-Tempered Clavier, Book II to follow on September 4 at 7:30pm.
Bach's monumental Well-Tempered Clavier has been studied by the world's greatest musicians since it was first released in 1722, and is consistently called one of the most influential works in the history of classical music. Despite its popularity, The Well-Tempered Clavier rarely sees either book performed as a full set. Rarer still is a set of performances that spans both Book I and Book II.
Didier Lepauw has been an organizer for the Library's Parisian Salon Concert series since November of 1999, and says that while each monthly Parisian Salon Concert brings something different to the Library's auditorium stage, this two-part exploration of Bach's musical style is something the concert series has never seen before.
"It's very taxing on the performer, to perform a book from The Well-Tempered Clavier in its entirety, and so it is very rarely done," said Lepauw. "I've seen George play these programs before. It's a phenomenal reading of Bach's music."
Both books from The Well-Tempered Clavier contain a series of 24 preludes and fugues, but each demonstrates a drastically different side of Bach's musical style. Book I was written by a young Bach;Book II, in comparison, is much more abstract than its predecessor, written when Bach was reaching the end of his life. Those attending each of Lepauw's performances will witness his musical illustration of the span of Bach's musical career.
"The pieces have a way of constantly renewing your attention," said Didier Lepauw. "[The Well-Tempered Clavier] is truly a world of its own."
Admission and parking for concerts at the Library are free. The Northbrook Public Library is located at 1201 Cedar Lane. For more information, please call the MultiMedia department at 847-272-6224 or visit our website at www.northbrook.info/events/concert.