Lang Lang – Bach – Goldberg Variations (Deluxe Edition Studio + Live) (2020) [FLAC 24bit/96kHz]

Lang Lang has realised a lifelong dream by recording Johann Sebastian Bach’s monumental keyboard work, the Goldberg Variations, often described as “a musical Everest”. It will be released in two complementary performances given by the pianist: the first was recorded in a single take in concert at the Thomaskirche in Leipzig, Bach’s workplace for almost 30 years and site of his grave; the second was made soon after in the seclusion of the studio. The two recordings can be purchased together as part of a super deluxe edition, a world first simultaneous live and studio album release.

“I’m now 38 and, while that’s not old, I think the time was right for a new stage in my artistic development,” comments Lang Lang. “I’ve moved into new terrain with the Goldberg Variations and really immersed myself fully in this project. My goal as an artist is to keep becoming more self-aware and more knowledgeable, as well as to keep offering inspiration to others. It’s an ongoing process, but this project has taken me a little further along the path.”

Listen to and watch a first pre-release track of the aria in both audio and video. Additionally we are offering an exclusive limited edition 4CD set of both live performance and studio recording together with an Art Card in our DG Store.

To record the Golberg Variations, the absolute pinnacle of western works on harpsichord and the apotheosis of the Baroque era, is the ultimate dream for many musicians. Lang Lang, who admits to have studied the fourth section of the Clavierübung by the Cantor of Leipzig for over twenty years, is no exception. This collection offers two interpretations of the same work. Firstly, a studio version, captured beautifully at the Berlin Jesus-Christus Kirche in March 2020 under the supervision of Christopher Alder, in which Lang Lang displays more measured tempos, particularly in the the initial aria and the first variation. This approach begins to animate itself more in the next section before the first variation in G minor which is slow, sluggish-sounding and unrelenting, taking on a stubborn and repetitive saraband rhythm – a remarkable conclusion to the first section. The outburst of the French Ouverture of Variation 16 is nothing short of spectacular. The following variations pass quickly before the second variation in G minor (Var. 21, Conone alla Settima.), with its very depressive phrasing, an imaginary Tombeau which momentarily instills an impressive gravity. Lang Lang nevertheless remains indifferent to the intrinsic structure of the Goldberg Variations, organised into ten successive groups of three variations with each group finishing with an increasingly complex canon (from the Var. 3’s Canone all’Unisono to Var.27’s Canone all Nona). For the Chinese pianist, his expressive heart seems to concentrate on the three minor key variations, and he doesn’t hesitate to project a Baroque expressionism that finishes the Golbergs with a touch of pathos and romanticism alongside a rounded and silky sound.

The energy of the Leipzig public, on the 5 of March 2020, adds a welcome characteristic. During the concert, recorded by Philip Krause, who also accompanied Alder during his studio recording, Lang Lang has fun with the polyphony, beginning with the Aria. Here, he dances and injects subtle variations into the accents, thus opening up a wider and more diverse field of expression (Var. 1, Var. 7). Mischievous (Variation 23 has 2 harpsichords!), Lang Lang lets his imagination run rampant and the emotion that ensues is truly striking (Var. 21, with its obsessive delays). A certain weight is lifted, even in the way the harpsichord sounds, which bears witness to how the Chinese pianist’s sound has changed over the last fifteen years. – Pierre-Yves Lascar

Tracklist

1. Lang Lang – Aria
2. Lang Lang – Variatio 1 a 1 Clav.
3. Lang Lang – Variatio 2 a 1 Clav.
4. Lang Lang – Variatio 3 Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav.
5. Lang Lang – Variatio 4 a 1 Clav.
6. Lang Lang – Variatio 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
7. Lang Lang – Variatio 6 Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.
8. Lang Lang – Variatio 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
9. Lang Lang – Variatio 8 a 2 Clav.
10. Lang Lang – Variatio 9 Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.
11. Lang Lang – Variatio 10 Fughetta. a 1 Clav.
12. Lang Lang – Variatio 11 a 2 Clav.
13. Lang Lang – Variatio 12 Canone alla Quarta. (a 1 Clav.)
14. Lang Lang – Variatio 13 a 2 Clav.
15. Lang Lang – Variatio 14 a 2 Clav.
16. Lang Lang – Variatio 15 Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. Andante
17. Lang Lang – Variatio 16 Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
18. Lang Lang – Variatio 17 a 2 Clav.
19. Lang Lang – Variatio 18 Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav.
20. Lang Lang – Variatio 19 a 1 Clav.
21. Lang Lang – Variatio 20 a 2 Clav.
22. Lang Lang – Variatio 21 Canone alla Settima. (a 1 Clav.)
23. Lang Lang – Variatio 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve
24. Lang Lang – Variatio 23 a 2 Clav.
25. Lang Lang – Variatio 24 Canone all’Ottava. a 1 Clav.
26. Lang Lang – Variatio 25 a 2 Clav. Adagio
27. Lang Lang – Variatio 26 a 2 Clav.
28. Lang Lang – Variatio 27 Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav.
29. Lang Lang – Variatio 28 a 2 Clav.
30. Lang Lang – Variatio 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav.
31. Lang Lang – Variatio 30 Quodlibet. a 1 Clav.
32. Lang Lang – Aria da Capo
33. Lang Lang – Aria (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
34. Lang Lang – Variatio 1 a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
35. Lang Lang – Variatio 2 a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
36. Lang Lang – Variatio 3 Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
37. Lang Lang – Variatio 4 a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
38. Lang Lang – Variatio 5 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
39. Lang Lang – Variatio 6 Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
40. Lang Lang – Variatio 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
41. Lang Lang – Variatio 8 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
42. Lang Lang – Variatio 9 Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
43. Lang Lang – Variatio 10 Fughetta. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
44. Lang Lang – Variatio 11 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
45. Lang Lang – Variatio 12 Canone alla Quarta. (a 1 Clav.) (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
46. Lang Lang – Variatio 13 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
47. Lang Lang – Variatio 14 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
48. Lang Lang – Variatio 15 Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. Andante (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
49. Lang Lang – Variatio 16 Ouverture. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
50. Lang Lang – Variatio 17 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
51. Lang Lang – Variatio 18 Canone alla Sesta. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
52. Lang Lang – Variatio 19 a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
53. Lang Lang – Variatio 20 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
54. Lang Lang – Variatio 21 Canone alla Settima. (a 1 Clav.) (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
55. Lang Lang – Variatio 22 a 1 Clav. Alla breve (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
56. Lang Lang – Variatio 23 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
57. Lang Lang – Variatio 24 Canone all’Ottava. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
58. Lang Lang – Variatio 25 a 2 Clav. Adagio (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
59. Lang Lang – Variatio 26 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
60. Lang Lang – Variatio 27 Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
61. Lang Lang – Variatio 28 a 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
62. Lang Lang – Variatio 29 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
63. Lang Lang – Variatio 30 Quodlibet. a 1 Clav. (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
64. Lang Lang – Aria da Capo (Live at Thomaskirche Leipzig / 2020)
65. Lang Lang – Aria (Edit)
66. Lang Lang – Variatio 7 a 1 ovvero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga (Edit)
67. Lang Lang – Variatio 13 a 2 Clav. (Edit)
68. Lang Lang – Variatio 15 Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. Andante (Edit)
69. Lang Lang – Variatio 25 a 2 Clav. Adagio (Edit)
70. Lang Lang – Variatio 26 a 2 Clav. (Edit)
71. Lang Lang – Variatio 30 Quodlibet. a 1 Clav. (Edit)