Gustav Leonhardt Plays Bach

"The LP of this recital was one of a handful of Bach issues which gave me immense enjoyment when I reviewed it first. I remarked then that Gustav Leonhardt seemed to have achieved a greater spontaneity in his performances in recent years. His playing here is certainly full of vitality, containing a degree of stylistic assurance which amongst some enthusiasts and practitioners of baroque music is equated with gospel authority. Such fine qualities together amount to thrilling performances. The pieces are thoughtfully chosen and often evince a passionate response—as, for instance, in the Toccata in E minor—at times almost startling in its intensity." (Gramophone)