J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations

Featuring

Klára Würtz
Johann Sebastian Bach

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Compositional Technique

The final variation, the thirtieth, is a quodlibet, which combines two popular song melodies in counterpoint above the fundamental bass.

Performer Biography

Klára Würtz studied at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest with iconic teachers like Zoltán Kocsis, Ferenc Rados, and György Kurtág.

Compositional Technique

The variations are grouped in threes, with the last of each group being a canon, progressing from a unison to a ninth interval.

Composition History

The work is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, a pupil of Bach's who played harpsichord in Count Keyserlingk's private band and would play for the Count during his sleepless nights.

Compositional Technique

The Goldberg Variations are structured with a sarabande theme, and all thirty variations preserve its bass and harmonic structure, forming a chaconne or passacaglia.

Composition History

The Goldberg Variations were commissioned by Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk, a patron of Bach's, to help him with his sleepless nights.

Performer Biography

Klára Würtz, the pianist on this recording, has made over 40 albums ranging from Mozart to Bartók and is known for her interpretations of Classical and Romantic repertoire.