Variations Goldberg Halls

Matthew Halls is one of the brightest sparks of the UK early music scene, who, as director of Retrospect Ensemble, has rapidly established himself as one of Britain's most exciting young conductors as well as a leading harpsichordist. J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations', features Bach's popular masterpiece for keyboard, plus Sarabanda con Partite and Aria Variata.

Firma Melodiya presents concert recordings of J.S. Bach's compositions performed by Grigory Sokolov, arguably the most intellectual of all modern Russian pianists. At the age of 16, he became a winner of the 3rd International Tchaikovsky Competition and has been an active concert performer for more than forty years. There are just few musicians now who are described as "He lives for the sake of music. Only music". Sokolov's biography is not rich in external events as he is not a public figure. However, those who have heard him in concert or on records will never be able to forget his play. Sokolov prefers deeply considered "music of mind" to virtuosic lustre. He is mostly known as an interpreter of Bach's works, late Beethoven and Brahms. "He is often compared with Gould. But Sokolov has a Bach of his own. He is more of a philosopher", a critic wrote about his performance in the Literaturnaya Gazeta. But unlike the Canadian intellectual genius of pianism, Sokolov has preferred concerts to recordings. "The biggest gap is the one between the microphone and a man", the musician believes. The Goldberg Variations, Bach's most complicated cycle from the performing point of view, was recorded by Grigory Sokolov in concert in 1982. The album also includes Partita in C minor and English Suite in A minor recorded in various years.

With a plethora of available recordings of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations, some of near legendary status, one approaches yet another addition to the discography of this masterwork with trepidation. In few other instances does the weight of a recorded legacy make the challenge of offering a fresh, individual voice (and of overcoming the danger of being deemed inconsequential) so daunting. All the more reason then to admire Jory Vinikour's magisterial new account, which convincingly dispels the listener's fears that this is 'just another' version. By turns ruminative, lyrical, brilliant, and regal, this release warrants the following recommendation: even if you already own several outstanding recordings of the Goldberg Variations, do not fail to check out this one.

The Britten Sinfonia s Associate Leader, Thomas Gould directs the ensemble in Dmitry Sitkovetsky s beautifully realised and heartfelt arrangement for strings of Bach s great keyboard work, 'The Goldberg Variations'. Sitkovetsky s arrangement (first conceived for string trio and later expanded for string orchestra), made in 1985 on the 300th anniversary of Bach s birth, is lovingly and painstakingly done. He dedicates the string trio arrangement to Glenn Gould, and it is clear from much of the written-out ornamentation that Gould s recordings of the Goldbergs were Sitkovetsky s passport into the music.

The introduction of important recording works by the exceptional musician and composer Uri Caine: Uri Caine is one of the few artists who is at home in jazz clubs, in classical concert halls and at the opera. Caine is a knowledgeable great master of both serious and light music. His artistic creativity and joy of experimentation seem to be boundless. He reworks the repertoire of the Tin Pan Alley and from the Great American Songbook. Through his interpretations do not only Johann Sebastian Bach and Giuseppe Verdi sound unexpectedly new but also George Gershwin and not to forget Gustav Mahler. He interprets, adapts, arranges and carries on the music of Mahler.

Presenting four masterworks for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jory Vinikour performs on a harpsichord modeled after German harpsichords of Bachs time, notably Silbermann. Speaking with richness and clarity, this harpsichord was built by Tom and Barbara Wolf.

Presenting four masterworks for harpsichord by Johann Sebastian Bach, Jory Vinikour performs on a harpsichord modeled after German harpsichords of Bachs time, notably Silbermann. Speaking with richness and clarity, this harpsichord was built by Tom and Barbara Wolf. The Italian Concerto and the French Overture, both published by Bach in the 2nd volume of his Clavier Übung, are paired with two other great works - the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue, as well as the concerto-like Prelude and Fugue in a minor. Two-time GRAMMY Award nominated harpsichordist Jory Vinikour is recognized as one of the outstanding musicians of his generation. A highly diversified career brings him to the worlds most important festivals and concert halls as recital and concerto soloist, and partner to several of todays finest artists. Born in Chicago, Jory Vinikour studied in Paris with Huguette Dreyfus and Kenneth Gilbert on a Fulbright scholarship. First Prizes in the International Harpsichord Competitions of Warsaw (1993) and the Prague Spring Festival (1994) brought him to the publics attention, and he has since appeared in festivals and concert series throughout much of the world. In 2019, Jory made his debut at the Ravinia Festival, playing Bachs Goldberg Variations. At the Aspen Festival, he conducted Bachs six Brandenburg Concertos.