I'm in the process of preparing for a little review project involving recordings of the Handel Suites for Harpsichord. Usually, I reserve any comments until review time, but I just have to relate my first impressions of an aspect of the Murray Perahia disc containing Handel Suites and some Scarlatti Sonatas. First, a little background. My favorite Handel Suite is No.5 in E major HWV 430, and it's not because of the famous last movement Air with Variations known as the "Harmonious Blacksmith". My affection for the work comes primarily from the Allemande and its Prelude introduction. I find this music so uplifting; it makes me feel great no matter what kind of day it has been. So when I acquire a disc having BWV 430, I immediately start listening to the Prelude/Allemande. That's just what I did after buying the Perahia disc at a local store, and I have to tell you that I was really floored by the performance. I have all of Perahia's Bach keyboard recordings; no matter what else I think of them, I consider the readings always eminently tasteful and pleasureable. Therefore, I was not prepared for what Perahia does to the Prelude and Allemande from BWV 430. From the start of the Prelude, it is clear that Perahia is going to romanticize Handel's music into what could be called a fifth Brahms Ballad. Hushed tones, shifting dynamics, and a precious quality pervade his performance. I'll likely catch hell for this, but Richter's Prelude/Fugue on EMI is a real man's performance; Perahia sounds like a delicate little 'sissy' who would cry and break at the slightest upset. For what it's worth, the Harmonious Blacksmith sounded very good. But, I will never be able to comprehend the need of some pianists to take baroque music and make it sound like a work composed in 1860. Well, with little exception, I've never understood the appeal of music from the romantic period to begin with. It must be a very strong appeal when high quality performers take music from a different era and twist it to satisfy their romanticized urges. There is another odd thing about the Perahia disc. The back cover of the booklet has a photograph of Perahia which is the exact same photograph on the front cover of one of his Bach keyboard discs. What a clever way to save on film and lightbulbs! We can always count on Sony Classical to give us meaningful innovations. Don Satz [log in to unmask]