Eloïse Bella Kohn: Bach

'The last fugue is particularly celebrated because Bach used the Note-Letter symbolism to write his name B-A-C-H as the letters matching the notes of the third theme, as an architect would do by engraving his name on the stone of his building. There have been a dozen completions composed by scholars for this last fugue. But none has entered the standard repertoire. This recording offered me an opportunity to commission from Thierry Escaich, my former teacher, a new completion of this last unfinished fugue. There is a remarkable similarity between the respective musical activities of Escaich and Bach. Escaich is not only renowned as a virtuoso organist and improviser but also as one of the most sought-after composers internationally. Furthermore, he teaches composition at the Conservatoire de Paris with a focus on fugues. Unlike other versions, Escaich's completion composed in 2021 has many of the ingredients to make it as authentic as possible. I hope that it will give a new perspective to Bach’s last great masterpiece and might also inspire my fellow performers.'