‘Under Mahan Esfahani’s fleet fingers, and even fleeter imagination, [the Toccatas] positively fly … Esfahani continually finds more in the music than the page might suggest … fugues that in other performances outstay their welcome simply don’t. Esfahani perfectly understands the toccatas’ architecture, yet celebrates their quirkiness and, interrogating every note, is generous with expressive pauses’ (BBC Music Magazine)
1
Toccata in F sharp minor BWV910[11’14]
2
Toccata in C minor BWV911[12’05]
3
Toccata in D major BWV912[12’33]
4
Toccata in D minor BWV913[14’22]
5
Toccata in E minor BWV914[8’04]
6
Toccata in G minor BWV915[10’08]
7
Toccata in G major BWV916[8’28]
The exuberant vitality of Bach’s toccatas—works which the young composer probably wrote to demonstrate his own brilliance and technique as a performer—here provides the perfect showcase for the interpretative flair of Mahan Esfahani.