J. S. Bach - Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - 1. Aria (1/13) - Chiara Massini, Harpsichord

[ohforchristssake1]

accords fall apart due to delayed notes. at least to my taste. yes, I know that the delays are supposed to "imitate" dynamics, but these Bach pieces would remain enjoyable even "clockwork" style. some argue that Bach is the matematician of music and most of his works reflect this attitude being like a mind exercise and it is pointless to force romanticism into those pieces that are meant to be free of emotion.

[Ariavariata95]

@ohforchristssake1 I do agree with you on some accounts of this For example, his prelude and fugue no. 2 in C minor is a purely mathematical piece, just an exercise, and there isn't really much emotion one can put into it. But with pieces like this, I think some emotion is needed. I don't like the delayed notes though. Definitely better in a 'clockwork' style, as you mentioned. Have you heard Sokolov's? His is nice, but a bit over-trilled in places, and not on harpsichord.

[michelclavecin]

Elle joue très bien, la suite aussi (variations), je ne trouve pas qu'elle a un touché pianistique mais dans l'aria, un peu trop de suspension (arpège à 2 sons) à mon goût.. ou toutes trop pareilles

[rh7189]

wonderful))))))))))))

[olivleonardo]

She likes to play out of beat. X)

[agilroberdamas]

touché du clavecin un peut trop pianistique

[janosj]

Traag, duidelijk emn oneigenlijk mooi.

[Drakopulous]

This is more Gooder.

[ruidemoraisbarbosa]

These "delays" (as you call them) are played precisely to make this performance the most beautiful one I have heard in all my life, I think. They are one way to let Bach breath. Because Bach must not be mathematical. And this is why Chiara Massini is Unique. Along the last 2 years, I`m playing Goldberg Variations, in piano. And I hear Chiara playing a lot of times, to "feel" all the "colours" she gives.

Compared with Chiara, Vanda Landowska is so "poor"!...

[OttorinoR]

its baroque style, and i love different performances of this music, thanks for the improvisation (althoug it is not improvisated)

[mergblue]

A faithful recording - it's great hearing the cembalo version for once.

[zinktitanum]

@mergblue I like how you put it! It is :nice: to hear :once: the work, on the instrument for which it was intended, and, I suppose, it is nicer to hear it endless times on any other! Some people do think weardly!

[lubkinpage]

Dear anisometropie, I don't understand your comment...I find that this interpretation of the Goldberg Aria is one of the most  beautiful that I have ever heard. All the notes are played with their right values without any mistake. The first G (with the right hand I think) is only an euphonic and particular effect that Chiara has gifted to every listener.

Brava Chiara!

[fiandrhi]

Lubkinpage, I don't think anisometropie's comment was meant to suggest this was *not* a beautiful interpretation. He was simply pointing out the delay between the bass note and the melody note. There is, objectively, a delay (and there are of course many such delays throughout the interpretation).  I would agree that this is unusual, at least to this degree. I too, don't understand why this is done, but I agree that the interpretation is lovely.

[anisometropie]

I don't understand why there is such a time gap between the right arm et the left hand, for example the first G

[zinktitanum]

@anisometropie However, nobody answered your question. This is done, because the harpsichord does not have a "great" possibility on making dynamics. So, if you play everything "together", it will all sound on one, harsh dynamic. It is just the way to play the harpsichord. For me, this is not the problem on this recording. The problem is that the piece "sticks", it doesn;t have a pace, it does not go on.