Search - Johann Sebastian Bach, Ekaterina Dershavina :: Bach: Goldberg Variations

A surprise

12/04/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ekaterina Dershavina plays the *Goldberg Variations* in the full sense of the term variations. For a performer rarely recorded (this may be her only recording), she performs this daunting work with ideas, and with varying styles. After a somewhat Romantically played Aria, Her first variation reminds us of Gould's 1981 recording. Aside from Gould's, her second variation is the only other recording I've found that expresses the jubilation inherent in the piece. Her fifth variation sounds like Chopin, replacing the often-played-as snaky line with a sprinkle of stars. She observes all repeats except for in the Aria da capo, but many of her repeats are not mere repeats; she adds ornaments here and there, and when not ornamenting, she takes advantage of her instrument, the piano, to emphasize certain lines through dynamics. In variation fourteen, for instance, her first A section brings out the soprano voice; in her repeat of it, she emphasizes the bass. The quality of this performance, and recording, is especially surprising in light of the budget price of this album. At any CD price, I would urge Bach fans not to miss this humble rendition."

GOLDBERGS WORTH THEIR "WAIT" IN GOLD

Melvyn M. Sobel | Freeport (Long Island), New York | 07/06/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Like Wolfgang Rubsam's enlightening performance of Bach's English Suites (on Naxos), which completely opened my ears anew, Dershavina brings to the Goldberg Variations the same humanity, the same wistful, yet joyous, penetrating and seemingly improvisatory pianism. No other artist I've heard seems as close to making the Goldbergs come alive as she does, and with not the slightest trace of self-consciousness, pretense, eccentricity or ego (which pretty much rules out most players in the field).



Everything Ekaterina does seems... "right." From the beautiful opening "Aria," through every variation and back, everything satisfies, everything "fits." This is Bach whose depth and breadth are nurtured in each note, but whose wit and wisdom are also keenly apparent. And his humanity. Brought to life like this, Bach becomes the composer of the intimate, infinite wonders we know him to be.



Like an old oil painting that has had layer upon layer of time and neglect removed to reveal beneath a glowing work of art, vibrant and stunning, such is Dershavina's way with Bach.



[Running time: 77:13]"

Very, very appealing Goldberg

Christian Ellithorpe | Streamwood, IL United States | 02/22/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a very, very appealing Goldberg performance. So many Goldbergs are out there, that how can you tell which to buy? Well, the "standard" & most highly recommended by far are the Gould performances. Sometimes, it seems that every Goldberg Variations performance is inevitably compared in some way or another to Gould's pivotal 1955 recording, which certainly deserves it's own special place in history. However, I simply can't accept that Gould was the only one who could understand this masterpiece by Bach, and so I have tried other recordings of the piece, and one day I stumbled on this gem performed with elegance by the very gifted Ekaterina Dershavina. Her opening aria is wonderfully paced, and subsequent movements such as Variations 1 and 2 actually reveal the joyful dance-like quality that few pianists ever discover. Gould certainly did on his 1955 recording, but his occasional grunts are just barely audible in the background, and first-time listeners might be distracted. This Arte Nova is so much more recent that the recording quality is better, if not perfect. The only reason I don't give this release 5 stars is because the recording could be a bit more open & spacious; the recording sound is very good, just not great. For a GREAT recording and overall equally appealing performance, I'd highly recommend Angela Hewitt's performance on Hyperion #CDA 67305. It has a few slightly different paced movements, but all the signs of genius & devotion, and the recording is without any doubt a PERFECT 10."