Goldberg Variations Bwv 988 [Import]

Bach (Artist), Kenneth Gilbert (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 11, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
• ASIN: B000026CSQ
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,172,573 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Aria

2. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 1/2. Var 2/3. Var 3 Canone All'Unisuono/4. Var 4

3. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 5/2. Var 6 Canone Alla Seconda/3. Var 7: Al Tempo Di Giga

4. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 9 Canone Alla Terza/2. Var 10 Fughetta/3. Var 11/4. Var 12 Canone...

5. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var.13

6. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 14/2. Var 15 Canone Alla Quinta: Andante

7. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var.16 Ov

8. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 17/2. Var 18 Canone Alla Sesta/3. Var 19/4. Var 20

9. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 21 Canone Alla Settima/2. Var 22: Alla Breve/3. Var 23/4. Var 24...

10. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var 25: Adagio

11. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 26/2. Var 27 Canone Alla Nona/3. Var 28/4. Var29/5. Var 30 Quodlibet

12. Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Aria Da Capo

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent "Goldberg Variations", February 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Goldberg Variations Bwv 988 (Audio CD)

This is really an excellent interpretation of Bach's masterpiece. If you are going to buy a version of this work on harpsichord, you should consider this recording. Gilbert gives a beautiful performance which moves you like many other harpsichord versions cannot. Gilbert's approach to repeats is also very reasonable. He'll use repeats depending on what form the variation takes so that the "flow" of the work as a whole is preserved. Overall, a very impressive and recommendable recording.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Tasteful playing that is faithful to the text of the music, August 11, 2000

By 

Alan W. Pollack "alan_w_pollack" (Brighton, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Goldberg Variations Bwv 988 (Audio CD)

I am very partial to Kenneth Gilbert's Bach and Couperin recordings because he is reliably, scrupulously faithful to the written text of the music in his performances.

Some people complain that Gilbert's playing is dry and boring, probably meaning that they prefer a more emotionally extroverted, "Romantic" approach to the music. IMHO, Bach speaks all the more powerfully and authentically when played with restraint and careful attention to what he has written.

My only quibble with this recording is Gilbert's decision to skip some of the repeats. His rationale for this, documented in the liner notes, is not without reason, but I don't think these variations go on for too long with all repeats observed. I wonder whether the time limit of the recorded medium was more the unstated reason for skipping some of the repeats.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Consumers, ignore the 2-star review., July 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Goldberg Variations Bwv 988 (Audio CD)

...Trust the Penguin guide which gives the CD three stars, their best score, and the Gramophone Good CD guide which also recommends this performance....