Glenn Gould – Goldberg Variations [Mono] (UHQCD)

“Bach: The Goldberg Variations” is the debut album by Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. Released in 1956, the recording became one of the most famous piano recordings of all time. The sales figures were “astonishing” for a classical album: by the time of Gould’s death in 1982, more than 100,000 copies had been sold. At the time of its release, Bach’s Goldberg Variations – a collection of 30 contrapuntal variations that begin and end with an aria – were not part of the standard piano repertoire. The work is considered technically demanding, as it occasionally requires awkward hand crossings when played on the piano. Gould’s interpretation established the Goldberg Variations in the contemporary classical repertoire and made him an internationally renowned pianist almost “overnight.”

Fabio Camorani of AudioNautes writes about the original recording: “This version of the ‘Aria mit verschiedenen Veränderungen vors Clavicimbal mit 2 Manualen’ (better known as The Goldberg Variations) is not actually a perfect recording. Yet, there is something absolutely magical about it. Certainly a bit comes directly from Bach, whose compositions I adore each and every time. Gould’s particular touch surely adds something more and so does his fast and innovative reading. Maybe the mono recording in the amazing Columbia studio also put something in. What I do know is that the result is something unique and magical… I would call it a perfect imperfect vision.”

To mark the album’s 70th anniversary, AudioNautes Recordings is honoring “Bach: The Goldberg Variations” with a sonically outstanding UHQ-CD (AAD) featuring outstanding mono sound quality and 176.4-kHz MQA encoding. The strictly numbered UHQ-CD comes in plastic-free packaging (100% paper) and includes a detailed booklet with liner notes by Fabio Camorani. The impressive remastering is based on an safety copy of the original mono master tape.

MUSICIANS

Glenn Gould: piano

UHQCD stands for Ultimate High Quality Compact Disc and is a joint development of the Japanese CD replication company Memory-Tech and the Audio Quality CD Company from Hong Kong. Unlike conventional CDs, UHQCDs are not pressed from polycarbonate, but cast from a photopolymer and cured with UV light. Another layer of high-purity polycarbonate is applied to the softer photopolymer for scratch protection. The combination results in significantly reduced reflection of laser light inside the CD and an unmatched precise edge transition between pits and lands of the CD. UHQCDs are 100% compatible with standard CD players. Musically, the result is a sound image strongly reminiscent of analog master tapes.

Lista pieselor

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750): “The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988”

1.    Aria
2.    Variation 1 A 1 Clav.
3.    Variation 2 A 1 Clav.
4.    Variation 3 A 1 Clav. Canone All’ Unisuono
5.    Variation 4 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.
6.    Variation 5 A 1 Clav. Canone Alla Seconda
7.    Variation 6 A 1 Clav.
8.    Variation 7 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.
9.    Variation 8 A 2 Clav.
10.    Variation 9 A 1 Clav. Canone Alla Terza
11.    Variation 10 A 1 Clav. Fughetta
12.    Variation 11 A 2 Clav.
13.    Variation 12 Canone Alla Quarta
14.    Variation 13 A 2 Clav.
15.    Variation 14 A 2 Clav.
16.    Variation 15 Clav. Canone Alla Quinta. Andante
17.    Variation 16 Ouverture A 1 Clav.
18.    Variation 17 A 2 Clav.
19.    Variation 18 Canone Alla Sesta A 1 Clav.
20.    Variation 19 A 1 Clav.
21.    Variation 20 A 2 Clav.
22.    Variation 21 Canone Alla Settima
23.    Variation 22 Alla Breve A 1 Clav.
24.    Variation 23 A 2 Clav.
25.    Variation 24 Canone All’ Ottava A 1 Clav.
26.    Variation 25 A 2 Clav.
27.    Variation 26 A 2 Clav.
28.    Variation 27 Canone Alla Nona
29.    Variation 28 A 2 Clav.
30.    Variation 29 A 1 Ovvero 2 Clav.
31.    Variation 30 A 1 Clav. Quodlibet
32.    Aria Da Capo