J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variationen

Bach (Artist), Barenboim (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 25, 1991)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 2
• Label: Elektra / Wea
• ASIN: B000005E72
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #187,754 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

Disc: 1

1. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Aria

2. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 1

3. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 2

4. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 3. Canone all'Unisono

5. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 4

6. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 5.

7. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda

8. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 7. (al tempo di Giga)

9. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 8

10. Goldberg-Variationen, BWV 988: Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Disc: 2

1. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 16. Ouverture

2. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 17

3. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta

4. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 19

5. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 20

6. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima

7. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 22. (alla breve)

8. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 23

9. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 24. Canone all'Ottava

10. Goldberg-Variationen: Variatio 25. (adagio)

See all 16 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A thoughtful if somewhat long-winded interpretation., February 2, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variationen (Audio CD)

Barenboim plays the variations thoughtfully and with plenty of ornamentation to satisfy most purists, but his insistence on observing all repeats and his slower-than-usual tempi make this a real time committment for the listener and at times may cause drowsiness. The live Erato recording lets in more coughing and crowd noise than we have come to expect from most of today's live concert recordings. Also the pedal has a distinct squeak, audible through headphones. Despite these drawbacks, this is a good 3rd choice (after Gould 1955 and 1981) for those who like their Goldbergs on piano.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars every note counts in this recording, January 27, 2000

By 

Goldberg lover (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variationen (Audio CD)

Heavy and humorless? Listen again, Jed Distler. Slow, yes, but never heavy -- rather, tender and considered. The slower tempi may be unsettling for the first few movements, but after the listener adjusts to the new pace, the untraditional tempi allow the listener to hear the impact of each note. With Barenboim's respectful and affectionate interpretation, I became aware of new subtleties and beauty in the Variations that were never apparent to me when listening to other musicians gleefully crash through them (although of course it was always fun).

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Brilliant Performance, July 8, 2003

By 

Amittai F. Aviram (Columbia, SC USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variationen (Audio CD)

Aside from this recording of the Goldberg Variations, I have those of Andras Schiff, Rosalyn Turek, and Glen Gould (both early and late). These are all excellent performances, but Barenboim's is my favorite: thoughtful, passionate, sensitive, delightful, and masterful. The lilting Variation 7 (Tempo di Giga) and the final Reprise of the Aria are especially magnificent. I suspect that some other reviewers may take Glen Gould as the standard, but this is unfortunate in my view. By contrast to Gould's rushed and sometimes mechanical interpretations, I found this recording of Barenboim's live performance in Buenos Aires to be worth hearing over and over again. It is one of a handful of my favorite recordings of any music altogether -- a real triumph.