HHHHH  FIVE STAR REVIEW!!  HHHHH

GOLDBERG MAGAZINE, no. 12, autumn 2000

THE SIX ENGLISH SUITES, BWV 806-811 
Edward Parmentier. 
Wildboar WLBR 9302 
1993 * 129:41 min. 

The scarcity of English Suites recordings using harpsichord makes comparisons with Gustav Leonhardt's two recordings almost inevitable. In his pioneering set of 1973 (re-issued on Sony: SB2K 62949) Leonhardt played with a mixture of severity and cautiousness. His 1984 EMI Reflexe re-recording (re-issued on Virgin: 653-561 157-2) revealed a more self-confident artist; but, despite some moments of wit, the severity remained. 

Edward Parmentier, who studied with Leonhardt, has already shown himself a masterful Bach interpreter on Wildboar (Partitas: WLBR 9101; Toccatas: WLBR 9402). Now, his superb English Suites, played with engaging vitality and a tasteful balance of intellect, assured technique and humour on a subtly textured 1785 Jacques Germain instrument, confirm he is one of the world's most stylish Bach performers. 

Thanks to its monumental Prélude, many regard the Suite No.3 in G minor as the most impressive of the collection; but with Parmentier it was No.4 (F major) that struck me most. He paces its magnificent Italian concerto-style Prélude beautifully, avoiding the temptation of aggressive virtuosity which can obscure its fugal and harmonic structure. The gracefully lilting Allemande which follows, in which he gently stresses the rhythmic tensions between upper and lower parts and the occasional chromatic sidesteps, is entrancing. In each Suite, he gives brisk renditions of the Courantes and his performances of the French style dance galanteries Bach inserted before each Suite's final gigue sparkle with good humour. He also expresses perfectly the delicate tinge of poignancy half-concealed in the noble Sarabandes. 

Parmentier is greatly assisted by the pelucid clarity of the sound engineering, which places the harpsichord in a very natural, almost drawing room-like acoustic. Producer Joseph Spencer's interesting booklet notes complete the package. 
I hope there are Parmentier French Suites to come. 

CHRISTOPHER PRICE