Bach: Goldberg Variations | Evgeni Koroliov (Bachfest Leipzig 2008)

The Goldberg Variations for a desert island: Evgeni Koroliov plays the Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach at the Bachfest Leipzig 2008. Johann Sebastian Bach (1685 - 1750) gave the following inscription to the cycle for harpsichord that today is known as the Goldberg Variations: “Keyboard exercise, consisting of an ARIA with diverse variations.” The first edition of this harpsichord exercise was published in the fall of 1741 and formed the 4th part of a collection of compositions for harpsichord that Bach had compiled for the secular concerts of the Collegium Musicum. In the Bach catalog of works, the harpsichord variations are listed under the number 988 (BWV 988). The common name Goldberg Variations (Goldberg Variationen) originated only in the 19th century and derives from an anecdote that contemporary scholars have proved to be historically inaccurate. According to the anecdote, the harpsichord pieces were commissioned by Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk. Keyserlingk was a Russian diplomat