Customer Reviews

Bach J S: Goldberg Variations

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This is my fourth copy of a piano performance of the Goldberg Variations: my first three are Glenn Gould's two versions and Murray Perahaia's. Tal & Groethuysen bring a special, extra dimension to the work with their rendition of the Rheinberger/Reger two piano edition. I bought the CD with a bit of trepidation, questioning why buy another copy of this chestnut, but as usual, the Israeli/German duo, displaying their comfort with the music and one another, do not disappoint. The arrangement itself does not overwhelm the work: instead, the extra piano adds a third, and sometimes fourth playful voice to the familiar variations. The musicians do not overwhelm the work either: they are not show-offs, but rather good musicians content to let the music shine and speak for itself. Listening to the CD, I imagine some court musicians in 18th century Bavaria or some other principality getting together to to riff on some of the master's works and turning out something like this product. I only hope Yaara Tal & Andreas Groethuysen find more such works, or commission or arrange some themselves, from this period.

No. 1 Pick for Classical WETA's "Best of 2009"
[...]

Bach channeled through the honest and creatively inspired minds of late romanticism. That's what you get with the Goldberg Variations in the performance version for two pianos by Joseph Rheinberger and then adapted by Max Reger. There are moments where, in reference to the opera paraphrases of Liszt et al., you might want to re-title: "L'Grand Fantasie d'Goldberg", but surprisingly few. Instead, the joy is to perk your ears and listen for the often subtle little additions, fourth melodies, staccato octaves added in hushed shades of pianissimo. Even the aria, which is traded among the players but not actually modified, is so captivating that you go from incredulous eyebrow-raising (as you unwrap) to astonished eyebrow-raising as you listen to what's played. A surprise hit delivered with panache from Tal & Groethuysen.