Renowned pianist and Ukraine-born Natalya Pasichnyk has added her name and vision to the distinguished list of masters who have tackled Johann Sebastian Bach's timeless piano masterpiece, "The Well-Tempered Clavier."
On January 19, a double album titled Rethinking the Well-Tempered Clavier, the embodiment and culmination of many years of the pianist's creativity, was released.
"Her intellectual yet spiritual take on the matter is likely to be exactly what the composer envisioned. Guided by Bach’s assertion that music’s ultimate purpose is to glorify God and rejuvenate the spirit, Pasichnyk explores the intersection between divine inspiration and human existence. The result is a veritable tour de force of strength and sensitivity; of rational perspicuity, yet with the most tender sentiment; of surging vigor and might, but also of nonchalant lightness. A triumph," describes Navona Records, the American music label that released the album.
The album consists of two parts with 48 compositions each. The first part is recorded in collaboration with the Calmus Ensemble, one of Germany's most successful vocal groups. The second part is an exclusively pianistic interpretation of Bach.
"It's an entirely new perspective on a very well-known piece. I offer classical music enthusiasts practically new works and a new arrangement with a Ukrainian foundation. Because my inspiration came from the concept of the Ukrainian musicologist and composer Boleslav Yavorsky," Natalya Pasichnyk explained.
Rethinking the Well-Tempered Clavier is available on all major music platforms: Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, YouTube, Deezer, and Tidal.
Additional Information:
Natalya Pasichnyk is a laureate of several international piano competitions based in Stockholm and performs worldwide. She has established herself as one of Europe's leading pianists through her profound intellectual and creative interpretations. The largest Swedish classical music magazine, OPUS, included her twice (in 2014 and 2022) in the list of Sweden's most influential cultural figures.
The pianist dedicates much energy to unveiling the unknown Ukrainian musical treasure for Western audiences. Pasichnyk performs in Europe, the USA, Japan, and Argentina with leading orchestras such as the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra, Elbphilharmonie Laeiszhalle Hamburg, Orchester d’Auvergne, Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra, Kraków Philharmonic Orchestra, and Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. She collaborates with conductors such as Christopher Hogwood, Evgeniy Svetlanov, Arie van Beck, Jacek Kaspszyk, Marek Mos, B Tommy Andersson, and Robert Stehli.
Natalya Pasichnyk also holds the degrees Doctor of Arts and Doctor of Artistic Research.
In 2014, the pianist founded the Ukrainian Institute in Sweden – a platform for meetings between Swedes and Ukrainians to raise awareness of Ukraine's significant heritage and rich cultural life. The organisation works on strengthening Swedish-Ukrainian cultural ties, and a significant portion of Pasichnyk's fees goes to the institute's activities.
