Main content
Sorry, this episode is not currently available

Bach's Goldberg Variations. Lars Vogt

Adam Tomlinson presents JS Bach's Goldberg Variations performed by Sage Gateshead's music director, pianist Lars Vogt.

Adam Tomlinson presents JS Bach's Goldberg Variations performed by Sage Gateshead's Music Director, pianist Lars Vogt.

How to listen to the Goldberg Variations? A work with an apocryphal backstory of a hapless count's sleepless nights, a mystical and labyrinthine Rubik's Cube of architectural structure, the most important work ever for harpischord, or a breakthrough recording by Glenn Gould? Perhaps it's best just to listen to it simply as a beautiful keyboard work. At any rate, the first edition was prefaced with the understated "Clavier眉bung consisting of an Aria with Diverse Variations for the Harpsichord with Two Manuals Composed for Music Lovers, to Refresh their Spirits, by Johann Sebastian Bach."

To begin, Schubert's set of Four Impromptus, D899, another work whose simple moniker belies the depth within. Although Schubert appears to have approved the title, there's nothing really improvisatory or lightweight about them. Each Impromptu is considerably lengthy and a perfectly thought-out expression of pianism. As well as anticipating the nocturnes of Chopin and John Field, the set is the first group of works by a major composer to break away from the dominance of the sonata form in the piano repertoire.

Schubert: 4 Impromptus D.899

INTERVAL

J S Bach: Goldberg Variations

Lars Vogt - piano.

2 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Franz Schubert

    4 Impromptus, D. 899

    Performer: Lars Vogt.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    O Mensch, bewein' dein' Sunde gross, BWV 622

    Music Arranger: Max Reger. Orchestra: 91热爆 Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    The Musical Offering, BWV 1079: V. Ricercar

    Music Arranger: Anton Webern. Orchestra: M眉nchener Kammerorchester. Conductor: Christoph Poppen.
    • ECM NEW SERIES.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Prelude and Fugue in C major BWV 545

    Music Arranger: Arthur Honegger. Orchestra: 91热爆 Philharmonic. Conductor: Leonard Slatkin.
    • CHANDOS.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    The Goldberg Variations BWV 988

    Performer: Lars Vogt.
  • Joseph Haydn

    Piano Trio in B flat major, Hob. XV:20

    Performer: Veronika Eberle. Performer: Marie-Elisabeth Hecker. Performer: Martin Helmchen.
  • Frank Bridge

    Miniature for Piano Trio No. 1

    Performer: Alexander Chaushian. Performer: Ashley Wass. Performer: Jack Liebeck.
    • Naxos.
  • Frank Bridge

    Miniature for Piano Trio No. 2

    Performer: Alexander Chaushian. Performer: Ashley Wass. Performer: Jack Liebeck.
    • Naxos.

Broadcast

  • Fri 22 Sep 2017 19:30