Angela Hewitt

Angela Hewitt approaches the keyboard with a clarity of purpose that has made her the defining Bach pianist of her generation. Born into a musical family in Ottawa—her father was the cathedral organist—she was immersed in Baroque counterpoint from childhood. Winning the 1985 Toronto International Bach Piano Competition was the catalyst, setting her on a path that would become a monumental lifelong project. Over a span of 18 years, she recorded all of Bach's major keyboard works for Hyperion Records, a cycle celebrated for its combination of scholarly insight, lyrical warmth, and dancing rhythmic pulse. Hewitt's Bach is neither austere nor romantically heavy; it is played on a modern concert grand with a touch that evokes the harpsichord's articulation while exploiting the piano's color and dynamic range. Her influence extends beyond Bach, with acclaimed recordings of Mozart, Couperin, and Ravel, but it is her advocacy for the Baroque master that reshaped the repertoire. A meticulous performer who often writes her own program notes, she is also the founder of the Trasimeno Music Festival in Umbria, Italy, reflecting her deep connection to the country where she now resides.