Bach: Goldberg Variations | Evgeni Koroliov (Bachfest Leipzig 2008)
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- Опубликовано: 30 май 2024
- The Goldberg Variations for a desert island: Evgeni Koroliov plays the Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach at the Bachfest Leipzig 2008.
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) gave the following inscription to the cycle for harpsichord that today is known as the Goldberg Variations: “Keyboard exercise, consisting of an ARIA with diverse variations.” The first edition of this harpsichord exercise was published in the fall of 1741 and formed the 4th part of a collection of compositions for harpsichord that Bach had compiled for the secular concerts of the Collegium Musicum. In the Bach catalog of works, the harpsichord variations are listed under the number 988 (BWV 988).
The common name Goldberg Variations (Goldberg Variationen) originated only in the 19th century and derives from an anecdote that contemporary scholars have proved to be historically inaccurate. According to the anecdote, the harpsichord pieces were commissioned by Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk. Keyserlingk was a Russian diplomat and had met Johann Sebastian Bach personally in Dresden in 1741. Because Keyserlingk suffered from insomnia, he is said to have requested from Bach piano pieces that his harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg could play for him during sleepless nights. As a result, the harpsichord variations are said to be named after Keyserlingk's private musician Johann Gottlieb Goldberg. Although this is not true, the name Goldberg Variations has become the standard.
The Goldberg Variations are a masterpiece of baroque compositional art. They consist of an aria with a bass theme that varies 30 times in quite distinct ways. Every third variation is a canon, and of the altogether 10 canons, the last is a quodlibet in which Bach has interwoven two folk songs. The 16th variation is an overture and marks the beginning of the 2nd part. The final da capo aria completes the cycle. The Goldberg Variations were composed for double manual harpsichord, whereby 15 variations only require single manual, 11 variations require double manual, and 4 variations require either single or double manual. It is therefore a particular challenge to play Bach's Goldberg Variations on the piano.
Evgeni Koroliov, born in Moscow in 1949, is considered one of the greatest Bach interpreters of our time. Koroliov has lived in Hamburg since 1978 and has performed on all the world's great stages. His piano repertoire spans all musical epochs, but it is with his Bach interpretations in particular that Evgeni Koroliov has been able to impress the music world time and again. The composer György Ligeti once professed that he would take Koroliov's rendition of Bach's “The Art of Fugue” to a desert island. This adage could easily be applied to Koroliov's Goldberg Variations-one could surely set off to a desert island with them.
(00:00) Aria
(04:58) Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
(07:02) Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.
(08:41) Variatio 3. Canone all' Unisono a 1 Clav.
(10:49) Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
(11:57) Variatio 5. a 1 o 2 Clav.
(13:12) Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav.
(14:51) Variatio 7. a 1 o 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
(16:59) Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
(18:55) Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza a 1 Clav.
(20:47) Variatio 10. Fughetta a 1 Clav.
(22:35) Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
(24:42) Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta in moto contrario a 1 Clav.
(26:59) Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
(32:25) Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
(34:30) Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta in moto contrario a 1 Clav.
(39:49) Variatio 16. Ouverture a 1 Clav.
(42:53) Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
(44:40) Variatio 18. Canone alla Sesta a 1 Clav.
(46:32) Variatio 19. a 1 Clav.
(48:54) Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
(50:44) Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima a 1 Clav.
(54:01) Variatio 22. a 1 Clav.
(55:48) Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
(57:48) Variatio 24. Canone all' Ottava a 1 Clav.
(1:00:24) Variatio 25. a 2 Clav.
(1:10:42) Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
(1:13:21) Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona a 2 Clav.
(1:15:09) Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
(1:17:15) Variatio 29. a 1 o 2 Clav.
(1:19:44) Variatio 30. Quodlibet a 1 Clav.
(1:21:30) Aria da Capo
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I find it hard to believe that anyone can play this from memory, but then I find it hard to believe that Bach could have written it. Life is full of things that are hard to believe, we should be grateful for so much.
So true.
Really unbelievable. If you think there are people who know all 32 Beethoven piano sonatas by heart ..
he may see the usic in his head. I knew a concert pianist who said she transferred every piece of music she saw into her brain and theen just sight-read it from there.
Absolutely wonderful playing.
if you practice a piece enough, you end up learn all of its flaws and beauties, especially the hard parts
I had the wonderful opportunity to listen to this work played by Vikingur Olafsson in Helsinki. I came to the conclusion that Bach's music is actually all the music you need. There is everything in it.
But Olafsson is using just too much pedal, you can‘t really follow the articulation of the voices, as you can hear them in this beautiful Performance ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Everything...well...except for tenor sax and drum solos. 😁
@@Seinway Even if this was true (which it isn't), at least Olafson gets the tempo correct :-)
I prefer Gould 1981 performance .... trills are slower.
@@danwolfe9087both of them i think
Bach's music seems like it's written on the rules of the universe itself, on a material level, like the gravity laws, but most of all on a spiritual level. It's like it's always in the air, and when someone's playing it he's just raising the volume of something that was already there
Absolutely agree. Bach was a super genius. Recently released my version of favorite Goldberg Variations. Visit my page. 🙂
Beautiful, isn't it?
It certainly is
Beautifully put!
Es ist schön, daß es Menschen gibt, die so empfinden. Ich möchte mich dem anschließen.
Oh I'm so happy I found this!... back in 2013 I had the privilege of attending Mr. Koroliov's concert in the Palau de la Música Catalana in Barcelona, where he played this piece and blew me away. Today I wanted to hear this piece and my husband said I should listen to Schiff's rendition. I gave it a go but there was something missing for me... exactly what Koroliov's interpretation delivers here, feeling like a gentle caress.
That we, in an instant, can share the magnificent music of Bach played by such gifted pianists is the miracle of our age. All are to be found here. Thanks to efforts of like minded we have access in seconds to the World’s most wonderful music. Thanks for uploading, it is most appreciated.
Thank you for your kind words! We're glad you enjoyed it! 😊
Every time I listen to the aria, it amazes me that this theme contains the seed from which all the following variations emerge.
Once I start listening to this performance, I can't stop it halfway.
Wonderful performance.
When i listen to Bach it’s like my brain becomes stretched, and i can see the universe expanding. 🤯
Love you, papa bach.
I just commented elsewhere how my atheist dad told one of his pupil's: "Bach is the Holy Ghost of Music."
His music is all the "spirituality" I require. (He told me "Bach is the daddy of all musicians.")
Спасибо исполнителю за высокую фантазию и полёт мысли! Музыка Баха предстала перед нами не проста в 32 вариациях, а нам в интерпритации дали услышать 128 вариаций - какая богатая палитра мыслей и чувст у исполнителя. Музыка Баха звучит поражая внимание слушателя! Браво! ❤❤❤
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If I try to listen to this without hearing Glenn Gould in my inner ear, I find this version very beautiful and well balanced. Thank you, Evgeni Koroliov!
For the first time I was able to listen to this piece to the end. With pleasure.
Koroliov's plauying here is pristine. That's the best word I have for it. Pristine. And glorious.
His performance full of solemnity and magnificence is outclassing
FromTokyo
We're glad you enjoyed it! Regards from Berlin 😊
@@DWClassicalMusic
Thankyou
I hope you are well
May Germany be glorious and prosperous！
Magnificent performance. Listened to Lang Lang's recording yesterday and had to turn it off after a few minutes. This performance has restored my love for the variations.
Would you please elaborate more on why you disliked Langs performance so much?
@@Mr89siR its to mannered.
LL studied a lot for it. Generously, we can say he’s young, and his reading is very attractive as a hybrid between art and a pop product.
For me, a few seconds
Many of those asian performers (not everyone, but many of them) will never have that western sensibility in order to play a work like this in the proper manner.
Wunderschöne und detaillierte Aufführung dieser ewigen und perfekt komponierten Variationen in verschiedenen Tempi mit klarem doch warmherzigem Klang des technisch fehlerlosen Klaviers und mit sorgfältig kontrollierter Dynamik. Wahrhaft intelligenter und genialer Pianist!
wohl gesprochen
Such a lovely balance between precision and expression. Which I think is the true spirit of the music in the first place.
Stunning achievement… first, Bach’s monumental creation and now another ‘mind’ able to penetrate it. Thank you.
Brilliant performing works of art acquire many varied and provocative interpretations. It is the nature of great art to transcend the Artist simply because socially, on human scales we absorb great art to enhance our psychic well-beings, to heal ourselves, individually and socially… and perhaps our needs in this regard are constantly shifting, and for good healthy reasons. This performance by Koroliov qualifies as precious human therapy for any human ill that great art can assuage … and that’s a lot of ills. Thank you Maestro Koroliov.
The is the 3rd pianist I've listened to lately with the Goldberg Variations. It seems a skillful and conscientious puanist can't but win with something so perfect as the Goldbergs.
Это исполнение Вариаций Баха поражает своей одухотворённостью, чистотой интонации. Брава, маэстро Королев!❤🎉🙏
Superb performance Mr Koroliov!, one of the finest pieces from the giant JS Bach in the hands of a great performer. Thanks DW for your culture information and high quality music channels.
With pleasure, we're glad you liked it! 😊
Magnifico, Danke, Thank you, terima Masih , for this performance . love from Idonesia
wow what a beautiful rendition! bravo master koroliov - a transcendent performance.
Thank you for sharing beautiful music. Every single notes is pure and beautiful. I can say this performance is one of the best interpretation on Goldberg variations!
We're glad you liked it! 😊
Greatest Bach, impeccably played by this extraordinary pianist. Bravo, Maestro Koroliov
Bach is a piece of heaven on earth
I find solace in the intricate details of classical compositions. The nuanced phrasing, the subtle crescendos, and the delicate pauses create a mesmerizing experience that allows me to escape into a world of beauty and artistry. 🌺🎶
Bach's melodies have the perfect structure upon which the musician can extemporise. Every interpretation of the Goldbergs is different. Extra floral flourishes in the first movement and a dancing lilt in the second. I can see beautiful children dancing, in my mind's eye.
I am immersed in the sea of dazzling time and washed by the waves of soothing time
Koroliov's Art of Fugue is incredible in its freshness. Whilst I'm not so enamoured with the Goldberg Variation suite, this performance is still a monumental tour de force.
The Goldberg Variations aren’t a suite.
Absolutely fantastic music. It contains all emotions from joy to sorrow and despair, for then in the penultimate movement concludes with triumph and with the repetition of the aria as a distant memory. Maybe like our lives.
Vielen Dank für dieses schöne Musikstück. Habe viel Freude daran. Hört man immer wieder gerne!
This is an amazing performance... How did I just learn about this phenomenal performer?
He memorized it...HE MEMORIZED IT
Nope ,music itself is a customary guest in his body ,his hands only reveal it Memorization is a concious practice ,No piano player is concious of his playback he only reveals what has become part of his unconcious mind , his guest: Music
@@mauriciomontoyabriceno940 you know thats too poetic for me to argue against that.
Performing music from memory is not unusual in music. It's no more extraordinary than performers going on stage every night to perform Shakespeare or Wagner - from memory. 🐧
Valentina Lisitsa has one video on YT where she plays 3 1/2 hours from memory, she is The Queen Of Rach!😁
Classical musical compositions are based in a language which vocabulary is learned through the years so you don't have to memorize every single note. When you see musicians playing in the orchestra with the score, it's because they note there the indications of the conductor. A soloist doesn't need that.
I am an admirer of Lang Lang. However he recently recorded the Goldberg Variations and frankly, I thought it was not up to scratch at all. Too much modernistic 'flare' for my taste. I still consider Glenn Gould's take as one of the best (actually either of his recordings) as well as Angela Hewitt's. This recording by Evgeni Koroliov can now be added to my list!
LANG LANG IS HORRENDOUS! JUST AS HORRENDOUSD AS THE DEVIL GLENN GOULD WHO HASTH DESCENDED ONTO MINE PLANETE WITH INTENTIONS OF DESTEROYING THE GOD GIVEN MUSIC OF BACH !
Agreed, a more mature approach taken by Dr. Koroliov. Rounded and profound.
First class player , Executed with consumate skill and passion.
There are so many good performances of this magnificent work! And this is one of them. Personally I have gratitude for the many artists who give us on various keyboard instruments the chance to enjoy the endlessly beautiful Goldberg.
Nádherná hudba, ktorá lieči dušu. Neskutočný umelec.
Exquisite! What a performance.
Ich würde sagen: Aufgebraucht!!!
Классическая фортепианная музыка представляет собой тончайший озоновый слой, без которого вся остальная музыка не сможет существовать. Михась
Thank you for your comment. If possible, please comment in English next time so that more people can follow the discussion. All the best!
Technically excellent, excellent interpretation! I was enthralled with this performance. Bravo!!
In "The Russian Journey," about Glenn Gould's concert trip to Russia in about 1957 that made such a sensation, one of the Russian musical commentators said that his Bach was so new that everyone studying Bach from that time on would have to know it.
I particularly like the transition between the fourth and fifth variation, from a staccato to a legato - wonderful ... 11:52
Bach es el padre de la música, sus obras sublimes llegan al alma, saludos desde Chile 🇨🇱🎵🎻🎹🎻🎹💚
Simplemente excepcional. Un deleite para el alma escuchar estas hermosas melodías. Gracias DW.
Con mucho gusto! 😊
真的太棒了👏
Magnificent performance! It has always astounded me how people can sight-read music like this - let alone memorize it!
Just some education.....what u said is completely counterintuitive. Sight reading is so you don't have to memorise it, basically u just read it straight from the page, sight readers obviously remember some stuff, but they kind of get good at just reading on the spot. Memorising works come from years of studying the same piece, I highly doubt anyone could sight read some of Listz works, there probably is a hand full of people that can, but very very low amount that could
I think they call it, practice.
This must be one of the most balanced examples of the GBV in history. I don't think it _quite_ reaches the published interpretations by Perahia, but these resemble each other in their mature and balanced nature. Not the hyper-masculine, dominant takes of Gould, Gulda or Lang Lang, but also not the effeminate and mushy versions which one can basically trash. This is crystal clear, adult and responsible, I think could be the word.
Drawback: not enough silence and reverence after the finish.
I have all Bach's recordings by Koroliev. My fascination started from Well tempered clavier and from that time on it was a necessity not to miss each next one
My favorite is The Art of the fugue! I hope that this great pianist is still recording Bach!
@@strashuninstitue390 Thanks for the reminder. As per your recommendation, I just put up more Koroliov-Bach on my playlist to listen through. In the process I discovered that Ligeti seems to have mentioned a similar preference for Koroliov's _"Art of the Fugue"_ as you have.
KOROLIOV is in front of the MESSENGER and the MESSENGER smiles
Dies ist eine wunderschöne, präzise, nicht uhrwerkhafte, musikalische, virtuose Interpretation.
Sie ist mein Favorit aller Goldberg-Variationen-Aufführungen, neben der von Daniel Lessner.
Bravo, Masterpiece. Thanks German for Great talent of Music. It is the Zenith of Sound.
A stunning performance with such nuance and beauty. Well done Mr Koroliov.
Thanks so much for posting
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Thank you so much
Wonderful! Reminds me of Glenn Gould's 1957 Russian tour interpretation. Obviously Koroliov has been influenced by that watershed performance. The legacy of Gould lives on! And of that I am most thankful
I haven't heard Cloud's russian tour performance. But I'd heard a studio recorded version avaliable here on RUclips. I'm not musician, nor music critic, but I realize that Cloud's versions are a bit faster which is onr of the reasons why I prefffer to listen to other performances...I would even say that The timing of this performance is similar to Helmut Walcha's harpischord performance, don't you think? I would dare to Say that this performance is rather similar to Walcha's than to any of Cloud's that I had heard until now. Have you heard Walcha's performance on harpischord of this Bach's Masterpiece? Greetings from Venezuela!
@@Pablobeta2 I have not heard Walcha's performance. I'm not a big fan of harpsichord, but upon your recommendation, I'll give it a listen. I was a piano major at university and studied piano for 18 years starting in my teenage years. I've always preferred Bach and consider him the greatest composer of all time. And of all pianists, I think Gould's playing of Bach is the finest, and unmatched. But I also admire Grigory Sokolov, and Murray Perahia. Old recordings of Roselyn Tureck, and Edwin Fischer are also really really good. András Schiff gets a lot of praise, but I don't care for his playing that much. Although his knowledge and understanding of Bach's music is very broad and comprehensive. His playing, though 'perfect' does not move me.
Nothing even close to Glenn. This is the real deal. Glenn should humm to this.
@@grelusradu Have you listened to Gould's 1957 Moscow recording of his live performance of the Variations? This early period of Gould was much different than his later recordings. And I think much better too. Give it a listen ( if you haven't heard these specific 1957 recordings yet), and let me know what you think
@@lmergenti you are right! I heard care and involvement from him (he's always involved while playing but never for the music, more for his own feelings). Now I could hear that he cares about the composition..not like the later stuff wich could be renamed Gouldberg Variations. In the end though, his best and most impressive qualities remain the piano playing, not the music making.
Amazing Bach!!!!! Great Maestro Koroliov Bravo!!!!!!!
Une musique raffinée, celle de Bach, et merveilleusement interprétée.
Лучшее исполнение!!!
Спасибо большое Евгению!
La interpretación de Evgine koroliov es hermosa y la grabación es excelente. ❤
Wow!!! i just keep coming back to this one...
Muchas gracias DW por compartir este concierto. Las Variaciones de Goldberg son una de mis composiciones favoritas. Antes pensaba que esta versión en particular tenia ciertos trinos y adornos innecesarios (estaba acostumbrado a la de Glenn Gould, 1981 creo que es, la que no es muy adornada y repite solo los cánones), pero ahora que la escucho con el paso del tiempo pienso que está bien. Los pianistas rusos están siempre entre los más grandes concertistas, tienen muy buena técnica y escuela.
Con mucho gusto! Nos alegra que lo haya disfrutado 😊
The absolute best ever Goldberg Variations, even better than Gould!
I agree on the Gould thing, but Andras Schiff's Goldbergs are very beautiful too.
@@user-we6hm5zl9h You can also add Nikolayeva's 1983 live recording.
Am flabbergasted ... memory, talent, precision .. and visible joy of playing. Mr. Evgeni Koroliov makes it look easy, fluent and simple. Am scotched, looking and listening. Thank you for this beautiful 🎼🎹 moment. ❤
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Gracias DW,excelente,impecable interpretación,el genuino espíritu de Bach,aire fresco,bravo👏👏
Con mucho gusto! Nos alegra que lo haya disfrutado! 😊
It feels like little star notes dancing merrily and bringing my soul to life. Eminently well played.
Bravo!! Bravo!!
I really like this warm flowing performance, thoughtful but also 'felt' ... managing to slide between early and later Gould. Akin to Perahia whom I also really like
Outstanding!
I'm delighted to discover Mr Koroliov, and a bit surprised too, that is should have taken me so long. I really must get out more.
感動した❣️ありがとうございます😊
Variatio 5 is glistening in it's rhythmic tonality
Wonderful played🍃thank you
Спасибо.
Superb. Thanks DW!
😊
Me gustó mucho su interpretación!!!. Muchísimas gracias DW por compartir!!!!
Con mucho gusto! Nos alegra que lo haya disfrutado! 😊
Outstanding performance!!!
Да, Евгений, браво!
Magnifique!
Exeptional! Masterful! This work is enormous! I can understand, why this is a particular task to take on!
Very delicate playing, sir. Bravo!
I suspect KOROLIOV is the most important BACH's interpreter of the history +( with LIPATTI, of course)
Gracias DW, excelente música e interpretación!
Con mucho gusto! 😊
Wonderful, its a magnific performance
Amazing!
So beautiful! 🇨🇦
Extraordinario!!
Bravo!!
Maravilloso ❤
Perfeito!
Perfect🙏
너무 좋네
Very nice!!!
A distinct timing, different from many popular versions. Definitely interesting! It is as if the timing invites relaxation, more in-line with the "before-sleep" idea for the aria and variations.
Interpretación muy original. me encanta. sonido muy bueno y claro. perfecto.
Love the improvised ornaments
Quelle bonheur, quel talent!!!
Hipnotizada assintindo a aria! ❤
Excepcional
Аристократище среди исполнителей Баха!!!
Thanks.
very good ~~~!!