Nimbus recently issued a new set of Bach's WTC performed by Bernard Roberts
(4 discs - under $30).  Roberts has been mentioned on the list concerning
his Beethoven piano sonata series with opinions ranging from okay to very
good.

I had initially heard a little of this set through sound samples on a
web sales site.  The piano sounded horrible on those samples, but I can
guarantee that the recorded sound is actually quite good - any perceived
deficiency in richness is easily corrected through control adjustments.

So, we have a well recorded set of masterful music performed by a
thoroughly professional pianist at a very low price.  Almost sounds too
good to be true for a new recording.  The "catch" is that the performances
do not stand out in any way.  Roberts does a fine job with most of the
preludes and fugues, but there's much more to this music than Roberts
displays.  Hewitt, Schepkin, Gould, Schiff, etc.  all find more to say
than Roberts.  Also, there are times when Roberts does not keep momentum,
preferring to hesitate/pause slightly for some kind of impact which I just
found annoying and disruptive.  Why is it that so many pianists seem to
feel that these hesitations have favorable results?

Although I don't remember the details, the set received highly
complimentary comments from the Gramophone reviewer.  This might
be a case where that old "nationalistic bias" comes into play.

Overall, I'd place the Roberts set on equal footing with other competent
sets like the Jando on Naxos, both of them being eclipsed by other sets
which are distinctive and commanding.

Don's Conclusion - The Roberts set is not a bad one to have and the price
is right, but don't have it as your only version; you would be missing out
on much.

Don Satz
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