Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 1/2. Var 2/3. Var 3 Canone All'Unisuono/4. Var 4
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 5/2. Var 6 Canone Alla Seconda/3. Var 7: Al Tempo Di Giga
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 9 Canone Alla Terza/2. Var 10 Fughetta/3. Var 11/4. Var 12 Canone...
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var.13
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 14/2. Var 15 Canone Alla Quinta: Andante
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var.16 Ov
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 17/2. Var 18 Canone Alla Sesta/3. Var 19/4. Var 20
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 21 Canone Alla Settima/2. Var 22: Alla Breve/3. Var 23/4. Var 24...
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Var 25: Adagio
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: 1. Var 26/2. Var 27 Canone Alla Nona/3. Var 28/4. Var29/5. Var 30 Quodlibet
Vars 'Goldberg' BWV 988: Aria Da Capo
Kenneth Gilbert's statement of the familiar theme with which Bach begins is gracefully flowing, with just the right amount of stately rhetoric, setting the pattern for the rest of an outstanding performance. He also stress... more »es the dance element in the music, bringing an exquisite suppleness and rhythmic acuity to his playing. The great 25th variation is done with an intense inwardness often missing from harpsichord versions of the piece. It helps that his instrument has such a gorgeous sound, full and round with a strong bass, so important in this piece. It also helps that it's so beautifully reproduced. Gilbert omits some repeats and plays others, including all of the canons. This is one of the gems of Harmonia Mundi's Bach Edition, warranting an enthusiastic recommendation. --Dan Davis« less
Kenneth Gilbert's statement of the familiar theme with which Bach begins is gracefully flowing, with just the right amount of stately rhetoric, setting the pattern for the rest of an outstanding performance. He also stresses the dance element in the music, bringing an exquisite suppleness and rhythmic acuity to his playing. The great 25th variation is done with an intense inwardness often missing from harpsichord versions of the piece. It helps that his instrument has such a gorgeous sound, full and round with a strong bass, so important in this piece. It also helps that it's so beautifully reproduced. Gilbert omits some repeats and plays others, including all of the canons. This is one of the gems of Harmonia Mundi's Bach Edition, warranting an enthusiastic recommendation. --Dan Davis
CD Reviews
An excellent "Goldberg Variations"
02/01/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is really an excellent interpretation of Bach's masterpiece. If you are going to buy a version of this work on harpsichord, you should consider this recording. Gilbert gives a beautiful performance which moves you like many other harpsichord versions cannot. Gilbert's approach to repeats is also very reasonable. He'll use repeats depending on what form the variation takes so that the "flow" of the work as a whole is preserved. Overall, a very impressive and recommendable recording."
Take advice from a harpsichordist:
Alan W. Pollack | 07/22/2000
(2 out of 5 stars)
"Kenneth Gilbert's over-rated fame has mysteriously continued to grow over the years. This is attributed to his marketing skills, coupled with recording with the "big boys" in the recording industry. This is reflected on this album set compiled by Harmoni Mundi. As a harpsichordist myself, I find his playing to be continuously dry, boring, and extremely unmusical. His saving grace is the use of beautiful instruments for his recordings. I would advise ALL people reading reviews about recordings on Amazon.com to use caution. The 5-star reviews for this recording are certainly blown way out of proportion. I believe there are many other recordings of the "Goldberg Variations" more deserving of time and enegy of a general audience."
Tasteful playing that is faithful to the text of the music
Alan W. Pollack | Brighton, MA USA | 08/12/2000
(4 out of 5 stars)
"I am very partial to Kenneth Gilbert's Bach and Couperin recordings because he is reliably, scrupulously faithful to the written text of the music in his performances.Some people complain that Gilbert's playing is dry and boring, probably meaning that they prefer a more emotionally extroverted, "Romantic" approach to the music. IMHO, Bach speaks all the more powerfully and authentically when played with restraint and careful attention to what he has written.My only quibble with this recording is Gilbert's decision to skip some of the repeats. His rationale for this, documented in the liner notes, is not without reason, but I don't think these variations go on for too long with all repeats observed. I wonder whether the time limit of the recorded medium was more the unstated reason for skipping some of the repeats."
Consumers, ignore the 2-star review.
Alan W. Pollack | 07/26/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"...Trust the Penguin guide which gives the CD three stars, their best score, and the Gramophone Good CD guide which also recommends this performance...."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1