Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Henry Grossman, Dmitry Sitkovetsky :: Bach: Goldberg Variations (Transcription for Strings)

Bach's universality

danielinyaracuy | San Felipe, Yaracuy Venezuela | 01/28/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It is always a wonder to observe how so many of J.S. Bach's works weather the transformations that people subject them to. And to see that a sacred cow such as the Goldberg Variations can shine as a novel brilliant masterpiece when it is "transposed" from the keyboard to a string orchestra is just simply astounding. Makes you wonder whether Bach was more of a musical genius than what you already knew... At any rate, we have here an inspired adaptation, a spirited and deep performance, a perfectly recorded CD. What else can I say to convince you to get it?"

A New Way to Hear the Goldberg Variations

Gordon L. Struble | San Francisco | 01/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I generally don't like transcriptions, but this is the exception! My wife brought it home from the public library; and on coming home from work, I heard it playing. What a surprise:wonderful music (of course), an excellent chamber orchestra, and a technically perfect recording. I have never heard the counterpoint so clearly articulated. It is a must have for my collection."

Stunning

Michael Newman | Long Beach, CA USA | 04/14/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the most -- if not THE most -- beautiful transcriptions of any work of Bach. Sitkovetsky has turned the Goldberg Variations into a tone poem. At the same time, the instrumentation (string orchestra) does not have the heavy, anachronistic, 20th Century sound that Stokowski's (and other) transcriptions have. Indeed, transforming this piece from keyboard to string orchestra has the effect of clarifying and purifying the piece; every line of counterpoint is audible. For those who love Bach, this is a must. For those who do not love Bach -- you will after you've heard this recording."