BaL 18.02.12 - Bach Goldberg Variations

[doversoul1]

Following the first Chamber Prom, I would be interested in hearing the members’ opinions and preferences. We can talk about it in four categories:

1.Historical: you may not recommend it as the DC to buy but the performance(s) worth listening to for various reasons.

2.Recordings of currently (or almost currently) active performers. I think we can keep the question of availability as extra information.

3.On the piano: as the preferred or ‘could be recommended’ performance but let’s leave out the ‘I can’t stand it’

4.Arrangements and curiosities

All or any.

I am still holding on to Trevor Pinnock’s 1980 recording but if/when Mahan Esfahani releases his, I shall definitely buy it.

[umslopogaas]

On LP:

Tureck (HMV mono) Piano
Weissenberg (French HMV) Piano
Malcom (L'Oiseau Lyre) Harpsichord
Walcha (HMV) Harpsichord
Landowska (RCA mono) Harpsichord
Kirkpatrick (Archiv) Harpsichord

On CD:

Arrau (RCA) Piano
Rosen (Sony) Piano
Gould (Sony,1981 recording) Piano
Gould (Sony 1959 Salzburg Festival debut recording, mono) Piano

If I had to chose one, I'd fight for two: Walcha on harpsichord, which is the performance from which I got to know the work, and Gould 1959 on the piano, because its Gould. On the Gould disc you get the rest of his recital too: Sweelink's Fantasia in D, Schoenberg's Suite Op. 25 and Mozart's Sonata K 330. I'm no pianist, but I reckon its pretty amazing to knock that lot out from memory, then launch into the Goldbergs as well.

With respect to the piano versus harpsichord debate, I'm happy with either. I've very little time for the argument that Bach's (or anyone else's ) music should only be played on the instruments of their time. Interesting to hear, but not obligatory, in my view. Bach was, by accounts I've read, a virtuoso keyboard player and in demand to show off new instruments. Given the opportunity to try a new organ, would play one of his more showy Preludes and Fugues, to test the power and flexibility of the instrument. I bet if he could have got his hands on a modern piano, he'd have loved it.

There's also the interesting thought that's just occurred to me, that the Goldbergs were written to "divert" (according to my Walcha sleevenotes) an insomniac count. Its not clear if they were meant to send him to sleep, or simply entertain him, but if someone was playing music to me to send me to sleep, I wouldnt want it on the harpsichord, its not a soothing sound.

[umslopogaas]

Doesnt anyone have a view on Bach's 'Goldberg Variations'? Nothing? Not a squeak about one of the greatest and most divine pieces of music ever written? I only listed a few versions I own, simply because I do. Surely there are qualified musicians out there who might deign to comment on the music itself, not merely my random selection of ancient discs? This is thread about one of the most sublime works in the canon. Nothing ... ? Peter Katin, this would be a worthy item for a real musician, come in and speak. I'm worried, I'll have to go to bed now, but if I get up tomorrow and find no response, I'll be very worried ...

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Available versions:

Harpsichord
Devine
Halls
Auger
Bonizzoni
Suzuki
Ogg
Zimmermann
Beauséjour
Payne
Staier
Hantai
Pinnock
Landowska
Egarr
Leonhardt
Rousset
Hantai
Vinikour
Dirksen (with organ)
Pelleg
Weiss
Jarrett

Piano
Solé
Vassilakis
Friskin
Cload
Chung
Schirmer
Crossland
Pi-hsien
Pescia
Propper
Nikolayeva
Vladir
Marsoner
Issakadze
Schiff
Schiff
Zahharenkova
Van Bloss
Tal & Groethuysen
Lim
Feltsman
Gould (multiple versions)
Hewitt
Koroliov
Perahia
Bacchetti (x 2)
Jando
MacGregor
Angelich
Pelleg
Korevaar
Ohlsson
Tureck
Tanski
Kann
Janssen

Clavichord
Steen
Gát

Organ
Rost
Guillou
Van Tricht
Sonnentheil
Barshai
Lagacé
Albrecht
Lagacé
Vigneron

Other

Schmeding
Asperen
Stirmer
Goldberg Trio Bonn
Leopold String Trio
Amat String Trio
Strauf & Harders (viola da gamba)
Anzellotti (accordion)
Patkovic (accordion)
Finch (harp)
Blassel (harp)
Karlheinz Essl-Live Electronics & Orpheus Trio
Swiss Chamber Soloists
Sax Allemande (saxophones)
Homecoming Woodwind Ensemble
Stadfield
Schornsheim
NES Chamber Orchestra, Henry Grossman
Dimitry Sitkovetsky, Gérard Caussé, Mischa Maisky (string trio)
Gaede Trio
Jacques Loussier Trio

[rauschwerk]

I have Schiff's first (Decca) recording. On the rare occasions when I listen to it all through (roll on retirement!) I find it very satisfying, though it seems that Schiff's second recording may be even finer. I don't see myself collecting multiple versions, but then I don't do that generally.

[BBMmk2]

I have that recording to. I also find itr rather satisfying to listen. I also have Canadian brass(that famous brass quintet), playing it as well. Can we add that one to the list?

[Three]

J S Bach Goldberg Variations - Freddy Kampf (piano)

I got this cd yesterday when I bought a copy of the BBC Music Magazine.

I know very little about Bach, but have listened to this cd a number of times and am really enjoying it. Can anyone recommend any other versions of this amazing piece? The cd I have is played by pianist Freddy Kampf.

Thanks!

[Three]

Apologies, I accidentally posted this thread twice. If the mods could delete the other thread, please? Thank you.

[Roehre]

I got this cd yesterday when I bought a copy of the BBC Music Magazine.

I know very little about Bach, but have listened to this cd a number of times and am really enjoying it. Can anyone recommend any other versions of this amazing piece? The cd I have is played by pianist Freddy Kampf.

Thanks!

Three, I commented earlier on this CD.
If you want to go for an excellent milestone recording, try Gould's 1955 version (on Sony).

[johnb]

It would be fascinating to explore different recordings of the Goldberg.

The 1955 Gould version is very much a milestone, as Roehre has said. It is an 'essential listen' but do bear in mind that Gould has a very individual approach to Bach (love him or hate him).

Out of curiosity I've just looked what is available on Spotify and was surprised by the large number of recordings available there (both on piano and harpsichord), a few of which are: Bob van Asperen, Andras Schiff, Rosalyn Tureck, Glenn Gould, Masaaki Suzuki, Charles Rosen, Andrei Gavrilov, Wanda Landowska, Tatjana Nikolayeva, Maggie Cole. (Though finding them all using Spotify's search function might be ... err ... tricky.)

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

you may not have seen this thread, recently started Three

http://www.for3.org/forums/showthread.php?2678-Our-Summer-BAL-3-Goldberg-Variations

it is a huge field and somewhat daunting!

both the early 1950s gould and his later version are key recordings but there are many others with less idiosyncratic interpretations ....

[Gordon]

It would be fascinating to explore different recordings of the Goldberg

This work is a great favourite of mine - never tire - and I have over 50 versions, mostly piano/harpsichord some live off air. Very few duds -maybe Landowska's 8 litre Bentley harpsichord is bit hard to take though. I have a treasured "Interpretations on Record" programme on tape that set me off all those years ago. Remember Basil Lam?!!?? There must be a BAL in the archive somewhere surely?

Those of you with incurable curiosity might like to try the versions for organ, harp, cembalom, string quartet, string band [arr Sitkovetsky] , accordion [yes, several of them] and jazz quartet.

[Three]

Thanks for all the advice and suggestions, and apologies for missing the earlier thread.

[PatrickOD]

The Goldberg Variations is a favourite of mine too, and I enjoyed the recent concert from Cadogan Hall with Mahan Esfahni, harpsichord. My first version was by Wanda Landowska, when the harpsichord was a bit of a novelty for me. Since then I have acquired the two Glenn Goulds, Angela Hewitt, Andras Schiff, Rosalyn Tureck, all piano, and Teodoro Anzellotti, accordion. I don't have to hear the whole work at one sitting, though I often do, and for that reason I always have a version in the car.

[doversoul1]

This seems to be the latest (the first on Eine Alpensinfonie’s list). Anybody heard it?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/jul/14/bach-goldberg-review

Did Kirkpatrick record it? I’m rather fond of his Well-tempered Clavier on the clavichord, but even he didn’t insist on playing the Goldberg on clavichord?

And welcome to the Forum, Three.