Slowest played Goldberg Variation

Recently collected a recording of the Goldberg Variation played by Simone Dinnerstein (Telarc CD-80692), it is a gift from my wife. At first glance, who is Simone Dinnerstein? I just played it anyway. To my surprise, the recording paths the music slowly but it reveals the minutest subtlety in Bach’s notes (Thanks! Honey). You don’t find it sluggish, like Celibidache’s conducting, it just carries you into a meditation mode, the moment just you and time coexist. For a classical piece like Goldberg Variation, I didn’t expect such unusual interpretation from a young artist (recollect the last recitals of Backhaus and Serkin?).

The recording from Telarc is still exceptional. It faithfully recorded the sound of the 1903 Hamburg Steinway model D. It makes the Steinway more like a Bosendorfer.

It was the slowest Goldberg Variation I ever heard. Comparing with the Gould’s classical recordings in 1981, it is 26 minutes and 6 seconds longer. But truly indeed, it is an excellent reading of Goldberg Variation for Bach’s music admirers.

Wake up you classical music fan and happy listening.