Matthew Halls is one of the brightest sparks of the UK early music scene, who, as director of Retrospect Ensemble, has rapidly established himself as one of Britain's most exciting young conductors as well as a leading harpsichordist. ‘J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations', features Bach's popular masterpiece for keyboard, plus Sarabanda con Partite and Aria Variata. Matthew Halls' debut solo recording on Linn Records presents J.S. Bach's most significant variation sets for harpsichord in this, the second release in the Retrospect series. The Goldberg Variations is a work that that continues to fascinate and astound performers and listeners alike. The artistry and technique it demands is met with virtuosic skill and innate musical understanding by Matthew Halls. The two earlier works, Sarabanda con Partite and Aria Variata, show the extent to which Bach had become the true master of this composition technique by the time he came to compose The Goldberg Variations. Matthew Halls is Artistic Director of Retrospect Ensemble, whose debut recording, ‘Henry Purcell: Ten Sonatas in Four Parts', was shortlisted for a Classic FM Gramophone Award in 2009 and selected as one of the Top Albums of 2008 by the Sunday Times. He has enjoyed a busy and exciting career, playing with many of the world's leading period instrument orchestras, including the Amsterdam Baroque Orchestra, Les Arts Florissants, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Academy of Ancient Music, Theatre of Early Music, Montreal and New York Collegium. As a keyboard soloist he has appeared at the Cheltenham International Festival; Händel Festspiele, Göttingen, Händel Festspiele, Halle; Enescu Festival, Bucharest; Ottawa International Chamber Festival; Antiquarium Festival, Moscow, Lamèque Festival, Canada and Dias da Mùsica, Lisbon. Also available in the Retrospect series: “Henry Purcell: Ten Sonatas in Four Parts by Retrospect Trio (CKD 332) Track Listing: Disc 1 1. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Sarabanda - Theme 2. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita One 3. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Two 4. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Three 5. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Four 6. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Five 7. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Six 8. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Seven 9. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Eight 10. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Nine 11. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Ten 12. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Eleven 13. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Twelve: Allemanda 14. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Thirteen: Courante 15. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Fourteen: Aria Variata 16. Sarabanda con Partite BWV 990 - Partita Ultima: Giguetta 17. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Aria 18. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 1. a 1 Clav 19. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 2. a 1 Clav. 20. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisuono.a 1 Clav. 21. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 4. a 1 Clav. 22. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. 23. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 6. Canone alla Secunda.a 1 Clav. 24. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 7. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga 25. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 8. a 2 Clav 26. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav. 27. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 10. Fugetta. a 1 Clav. 28. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 11. a 2 Clav. 29. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 12. Canone alla Quarta. a 1 Clav. 30. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 13. a 2 Clav. Disc 2 1. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 14. a 2 Clav. 2. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 15. Canone alla Quinta. a 1 Clav. 3. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav. 4. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 17. a 2 Clav. 5. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. a 1 Clav. 6. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 19. a 1 Clav. 7. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 20. a 2 Clav. 8. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 21. Canone alla Settima. a 1 Clav. 9. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 22. a 1 Clav. 10. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 23. a 2 Clav. 11. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 24. Canone all’Ottava. a 1 Clav. 12. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 25. a 2 Clav. 13. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 26. a 2 Clav. 14. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 27. Canone alla Nona. a 2 Clav. 15. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 28. a 2 Clav. 16. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 29. a a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. 17. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Variatio 30. Quodlibet. a 1 Clav. 18. The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - Aria 19. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Thema 20. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 1 (Largo) 21. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 2 22. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 3 23. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 4 (Allegro) 24. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 5 (Un poco allegro) 25. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 6 (Andante) 26. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 7 (Un poco allegro) 27. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 8 (Allegro) 28. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 9 29. Aria Variata BWV 989 - Var. 10 Total Running Time: 130 minutes |
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