Bach on the Pleyel Harpsichord
Francesco Mazzoli writes “The instrument played during this recording is the concert harpsichord Pleyel which belonged to Irma Rogell (1918-2013), Wanda Landowska’s last pupil. This instrument was personally ordered in 1957 by the great Polish harpsichordist who played it during her last year of life. She required from the French manufacturer a particular sound, much richer and much more powerful than the concert Pleyel harpsichords produced until then. This Pleyel harpsichord has two manuals in the disposition 16’, 8’, 4’ choirs in one manual and 8’, lute and nasal in the second one, controlled by a seven negative-action pedals.
After a long oblivion, I began to restore it in 2010; it took two years to bring it back to its original sound which, as you can hear, is very rich, powerful, almost piano/organ-like because of its unique structure, considerably different from traditional French or Flemish harpsichords.”
The Brandenburg and the Harpsichord Concerto were recorded live during the inaugural concert of the restored instrument in Verona in December 2012. The two other tracks are included as a special tribute to Landowska and to show the exceptional qualities of this her favourite instrument.