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J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill)

Composer Johann Sebastian Bach
Performer Philharmonia Orchestra
Robin O'Neill
Philharmonia Orchestra
Robin O'Neill, conductor
Catalogue Number BIS-2658 SACD
EAN 7318599926582
Format SACD Hybrid

This hybrid disc plays on both CD and SACD players
SACD Surround - SACD Stereo - CD Stereo

Release date Oct 2024
Total time 73'13

Bach’s music has always attracted arrangers and orchestrators – such as Stokowski, Elgar and Busoni, to name just three. Regardless of its original version, Bach’s music has an expressive power, drama and architectural logic that lend themselves well to expanded orchestral sonorities. Bassoonist and conductor Robin O’Neill buried his head in the Goldberg Variations, which he had discovered through Glenn Gould’s recordings, during the first months of the Covid lockdown. Soon after that, the idea of making an arrangement for orchestra began to obsess him as he began hearing instrumental and orchestral sonorities in the keyboard work. Since the main challenge was to reclothe the music without damaging the subtle intricacy of the piece, and after much thought and experimentation, O’Neill chose instruments that Bach himself would have recognized for the solo parts. His reinterpretation of the Goldberg Variations offers a mixture of full orchestral variations interspersed with concertante ones involving two, three or four solo instruments, at times close to St Matthew Passion-style writing. Completed during a difficult period, this arrangement was made, in the words of O’Neill, in the hope that it expresses the joy and solace that Bach’s music gives both performer and listener.

Please note. Surround files in 24 bit are available upon request.
 
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01 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Aria 3'57
02 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 1 1'36
03 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 2 1'09
04 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 3. Canone all Unisono 2'06
05 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 4 0'56
06 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 5 1'39
07 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 6. Canone alla Seconda 0'52
08 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 7. Al tempo di Giga 1'52
09 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 8 2'01
10 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 9. Canone alla Terza 1'20
11 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 10. Fughetta 1'21
12 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 11 2'15
13 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 12. Canone alla Quarta 2'11
14 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 13 5'24
15 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 14 2'25
16 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 15. Canone alla Quinta: Andante 2'25
17 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 16. Ouverture 2'44
18 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 17 2'01
19 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 18. Canone alla Sesta 1'20
20 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 19 1'06
21 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 20 2'29
22 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 21. Canone alla Settima 2'22
23 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 22. Alla breve 1'06
24 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 23 2'37
25 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 24. Canone all'Ottava 2'26
26 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 25. Adagio 8'41
27 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 26 1'59
28 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 27. Canone alla Nona 2'07
29 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 28 2'23
30 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 29 2'16
31 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Variation 30. Quodlibet 1'54
32 Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (Arr. for Orchestra by Robin O'Neill): Aria da Capo al Fine 2'13
  Album total 73'13
ConductorRobin O'Neill
ArrangerRobin O'Neill
OrchestraPhilharmonia Orchestra
ComposerJohann Sebastian Bach
ProducerRachel Smith
Sound editorRachel Smith
Sound engineerBen Connellan
Mixing engineerBen Connellan
Executive producerRobert Suff
Immersive audio engineerDave Rowell
Immersive mastering engineerDave Rowell
Immersive mixing engineerDave Rowell

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