Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750) –virtuoso organist and composer of a wealthof orchestral, chamber and vocal music – isone of the most influential composers everto have lived, one whose works form anestablished part of the repertoire of everyinstrument for which he wrote. Thiscollection comprises the Goldberg VariationsBWV988, a composition that takes its namefrom a young pupil of Bach, Johann GottliebGoldberg, who was in the service of Countvon Keyserlingk. The Count was anotoriously bad sleeper, and requested ofBach a series of pieces for Goldberg to playto him when he could not sleep; he thenconsidered the work to be ‘his’, although itis widely referred to by the name of itsperformer. The variations are in groups ofthree, with the last in each group being acanon and the final variation weavingtogether two popular song melodies into aquodlibet. The variations range in character,and feature fughettas, a French overture,ornamental slow arias as well as virtuosicpieces for two manuals.The Goldberg Variations are played on avariety of different instruments. The first CDfeatures organist Pieter?Jan Belder, and thesecond Yuan Sheng on piano. The variationsof CD3 are performed on the organ by ElenaBarshai, while the Amati String Trio – GilSharon, violin; Ron Ephrat, viola; AlexanderHülshoff, cello – feature on the final disc ofthe collection.

Pieter?Jan Belder harpsichord

Yuan Sheng piano

Elena Barshai organ

Amati String Trio:

Gil Sharon violin,

Ron Ephrat viola,

Alexander Hülshoff cello