Bach: Goldberg Variations - András Schiff (2017)

BACH - Die Goldberg-Variationen - BWV 988
András Schiff, piano
Pierre Boulez Saal, Berlin
Recorded on Sun, 11 June 2017

*****************
0:05 Aria
3:48 Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
5:44 Variatio 2. a 1. Clav.
7:11 Variatio 3. Canone all Unisuono à 1 Clav.
9:24 Variatio 4. à 1 Clav.
10:31 Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
12:07 Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav.
13:31 Variatio 7. à 1. ô vero 2 Clav. (al tempo di Giga)
15:08 Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
16:58 Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.
18:32 Variatio 10. Fugetta. a 1 Clav.
20:11 Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
22:21 Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta.
24:28 Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
28:57 Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
31:01 Variatio 15. andante. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav.
35:21 Variatio 16. a 1 Clav. Ouverture
38:02 Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
40:16 Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav.
41:43 Variatio 19. à 1 Clav.
43:06 Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
45:03 Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima.
47:13 Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
49:21 Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
51:37 Variatio 24. Canone all Ottava a 1 Clav.
54:03 Variatio 25. a 2 Clav. („adagio“)
1:01:27 Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
1:03:44 Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
1:05:29 Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
1:08:33 Variatio 29. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.
1:10:30 Variatio 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet.
1:11:58 Aria da Capo è Fine

Notes:
- Schiff preceded the recital by a lecture. You can watch it in full here.
- The video has been muted in Variation 15
- You can watch the full concert (free of charge) at

[Garspawnish]

This piece saved my life and spirit during chemo, 2007. …And Bach and I are still playing, still clean and clear.❤

[emefcue]

You people realize how difficult it is to play all of these variations and repeats....in one sitting...with an audience...being recorded. Bravo

[SandWolf_]

0:05 Aria
3:48 Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.
5:44 Variatio 2. a 1. Clav.
7:11 Variatio 3. Canone all Unisuono à 1 Clav.
9:24 Variatio 4. à 1 Clav.
10:31 Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
12:07 Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav.
13:31 Variatio 7. à 1. ô vero 2 Clav. (al tempo di Giga)
15:08 Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
16:58 Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.
18:32 Variatio 10. Fugetta. a 1 Clav.
20:11 Variatio 11. a 2 Clav.
22:21 Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta.
24:28 Variatio 13. a 2 Clav.
28:57 Variatio 14. a 2 Clav.
31:01 Variatio 15. andante. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. (Muted)
35:21 Variatio 16. a 1 Clav. Ouverture
38:02 Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.
40:16 Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav.
41:43 Variatio 19. à 1 Clav.
43:06 Variatio 20. a 2 Clav.
45:03 Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima.
47:13 Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. alla breve
49:21 Variatio 23. a 2 Clav.
51:37 Variatio 24. Canone all Ottava a 1 Clav.
54:03 Variatio 25. a 2 Clav. („adagio“)
1:01:27 Variatio 26. a 2 Clav.
1:03:44 Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
1:05:29 Variatio 28. a 2 Clav.
1:08:33 Variatio 29. a 1 o vero 2 Clav.
1:10:30 Variatio 30. a 1 Clav. Quodlibet.
1:11:58 Aria da Capo è Fine

Notes:
- Schiff preceded the recital by a lecture. You can watch it in full here.
- The video has been muted in Variation 15

[ProconticPM]

300 let radosti, kterou lidem dává. Je někdo jiný takový na světě ?

[olavk]

My favorite pianist playing my favorite composer. Sublime, what a treat !

[MattLeonardPrice]

Bach. Nearly 300 years go by, and nothing, nothing comes close.

[trewq]

Love that they waited a bit at the end with the clapping until andras had a moment to enjoy the silence.

[wesmlr]

love this performance. i always love schiff's delivery - letting bach speak for himself.

[pnfctg]

Andreas Schiff's face beams with reverence ... amazing rendition of this beautiful music.

[andradas]

Mr. Schiff's intelligence and impeccable sound flow over the keyboard in this superior rendition of Bach's masterpiece. His touch is so crystalline and rich at the same time. His understanding of the harpsichord plays a major role in all of his performances of Bach. I adore Glenn Gould's Goldberg, but with Schiff the music reigns absolute.

[michaelhanrahanmoore]

I love to hear him play schubert aswell and his playing of bach is always so lyrical without being too romantic. I love the very slight rubato in places just to give it that humanity. There's something so human about his playing. Never seems to blast you with sound but invites you to join him in his world. He described schubert in those terms and I would describe him in the same warm light. I'll never forget the documentary he did on schubert which I watched and watched he was such a joy to hear speak aswell as play. Also I agree with virtually everything he said. A very insightful man.

[colorsofsound]

Epic! What really stood out to me in the first couple variations is 10:33 variation 5. Gould can play it the way he wants, because he is Gould, but when others try to follow in terms of tempo or phrasing, it does not come out well, because they did not think or understand or they tried too hard to do so, but Schiff makes it his own, and you can hear Bach through him. It is extremely powerful to hear the notes this naked and unassuming, Bach does not need anything remotely romantic or personal, because it is an offer to something greater, Schiff knows that and he also does not assume stupidity of his listeners.

[therightmusic]

That was a brilliant interpretation of this monumental work by a true genius, in all sense of the word (The Master of masters)... Maestro Schiff is, without a doubt, an unavoidable reference when it comes to Bach's music. He really understands what to say with every single note the composer wrote. The "black pearl" was of such dramatic and profound lyrism: such an acute musical intuition... A modern piano definitely gives this masterpiece the musical and interpretative level it deserves. On this instrument, as opposed to the instrument it was composed for (a two-manual harpsichord), and in Maestro Shiff's hands Bach's music really comes alive, and every single voice has the possibility to fully express the purpose it was conceived for... Bravo, Maestro Bach, bravo, Maestro Schiff 🌹 🎩

[bertrandcamus]

Le génie de Bach retranscrit à la perfection !! Merci Monsieur Schiff!!!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

[christinevitouxerben]

Que de paysages parcourus dans cette écoute de Bach-Schiff. Un voyage qui remet à tout instant dans un train d’espoir

[zurich]

For some reason, few pianists make the aria move like a dance like Sir Schiff does. It’s so refreshing

[fpcoleman]

I had the privilege of being at a concert by Andràs Schiff in the mid eighties at Wigmore Hall in London.
I don't remember what he played but he totally blew me away.
He is incredible!

[marmitedan]

The Rubic's Cube of music. To be completely honest, I've been lost in the Goldberg Variations for a while now. What a fantastic performance!

[nornje]

Andras Schiff is my most favoured interpret. Smart, sensitive and with an astounding technique. Thanks for this amazing performance!

[lbmfxmb]

Великолепные вариации в исполнении замечательного музыканта!