Stlukesguild

Today a new recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations arrived. This is perhaps my 6th or 7th version of this magnificent work... but then again... one can never have too much Bach. While I tend to prefer Bach's keyboard works played upon the piano (especially when performed by such masterful interpreters as Glenn Gould, Rosalyn Tureck, Angela Hewitt and Murray Perahia) this particular recording, by Andreas Staier on Harmonia Mundi, is played on the harpsichord. This is surely one of the finest harpsichord recordings I have heard. The instrument is well recorded... avoiding the jarring and jangling nature that makes it difficult to listen to some harpsichord recordings for long. This is a full and rich-sounding instrument, and Staier makes judicious use of the organ-like stops on the instrument that can lend a greater variety or sound color to the work.



The work also comes with a DVD in which there is a brief (perhaps 20-minute) interview with the performer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPyfodkXOLo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2hFP79Q1Ds

Highly recommended!

And now I'm on to the second disc that arrived today... a collection of works by Gérard Grisey... who is a bit further out there than Bach.