Johann Sebastian Bach: The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

Background:

• Published in 1741, and named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have first performed the work.
• A keyboard composition consisting of an aria and a set of thirty variations. On the title page, Bach specified that the work was intended for the harpsichord.
• The Handexemplar, kept in the Bibliotheque nationale de France, Paris, is a first edition of Bach’s personal copy of the published score. It was discovered in 1974 in Strasbourg by Olivier Alain.

Goldberg Variations.
Mahan Esfahani (Harpsichord).
Deutsche Grammophon.
BBC Music Magazine (2016): Instrumental Choice.
BBC Music Magazine Awards (2017): Winner Instrumental.
Gramophone Magazine (2016): Editor’s Choice.
Gramophone Awards (2017): Shortlisted Baroque Instrumental.
Presto Recording of the Week (2016).
Presto Recordings of the Year (2016): Finalist.

Goldberg Variations.
Thibaut Garcia (Guitar), Antoine Moriniere (Guitar).
ERATO.

Goldberg Variations (Arr. Dmitry Sitkovetsky).
Britten Sinfornia.
Thomas Gould.
Harmonia Mundi.
Gramophone Magazine (2015): Editor’s Choice.

Goldberg Variations.
Angela Hewitt (Piano).
Hyperion.

Goldberg Variations (Arr for Ten-String Guitar Duo).
Duo Synaphe.
Dimitar Ivanov, Angela Kleger.
NAXOS.
International Classical Music Awards (2022): Nominated Baroque Instrumental

Goldberg Variations. Live at Carnegie Hall.
Yunchan Lim (Piano).
DECCA.
BBC Music Magazine (2026): Instrumental Choice.
Presto Recording of the Week (2026).

Goldberg Variations.
Vikingur Olafsson (Piano).
Deutsche Grammophon.
Financial Times (2023): Best Classical Albums of the Year.
Presto Recording of the Week (2023).
Presto Recordings of the Year (2023): Winner.
Sunday Times (2023): 10 Best Classical Albums of the Year.
International Classical Music Awards (2024): Nominated Baroque Instrumental.
Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Bestseller of the Year.
Grammy Awards (2025): Winner Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

Goldberg Variations.
Murray Perahia (Piano).
Sony.
Gramophone Awards (2001): Winner Instrumental.

Goldberg Variations Reimagined.
Brecon Baroque.
Rachel Podger (Violin). Chad Kelly.
Channel Classics.
Presto Editor’s Choice (2023).

Goldberg Variations.
Beatrice Rana (Piano).
Warner Classics.
Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor’s Choice.
Gramophone Awards (2017): Finalist Instrumental.
Presto Recordings of the Year (2017): Finalist.
The New York Times (2017): Recordings of the Year.

Goldberg Variations.
Andras Schiff (Piano).
ECM New Series.
Radio 3 (2012): Building a Library First Choice.

Goldberg Variations.
Trio Zimmermann.
BIS.
International Classical Music Awards (2019): Nominee Baroque Instrumental.
​Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year (2019): Nominated Chamber.