Back to Bach: after the huge success of Johann Sebastian Bach (2018), Víkingur Ólafsson has now recorded the composer’s monumental Goldberg Variations, available as a 2-LP gatefold set (pressed on 180g black vinyl). The accompanying booklet includes an engrossing and in depth essay in which the pianist discusses the work and its history. He also reflects on the performance decisions he had to make in the studio when it came to creating a definitive version of a work he’d dreamt of recording for 25 years. “At least to me, the Goldberg Variations’ genius lies not in the general, but the specific,” says Ólafsson. “As each variation unfolds, one must be wholly gripped by its individual drama and affect, drawn into its own marvellous little microcosm and filled with the joy of discovering it.” The album comes out on Deutsche Grammophon on 6 October 2023.

Tracklist - J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988:

01. 1. Aria
02. Variatio 1 a 1 Clav. 
03. Variatio 2 a 1 Clav. 
04. Variatio 3 Canone all'Unisono a 1 Clav. 
05. Variatio 4 a 1 Clav. 
06. Variatio 5 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
07. Variatio 6 Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav. 
08. Variatio 7 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
09. Variatio 8 a 2 Clav. 
10. Variatio 9 Canone alla Terza. A 1 Clav. 
11. Variatio 10 Fughetta. A 1 Clav. 
12. Variatio 11 a 2 Clav. 
13. Variatio 12 Canone alla Quarta. (a 1 Clav.) 
14. Variatio 13 a 2 Clav. 
15. Variatio 14 a 2 Clav. 
16. Variatio 15 Canone alla Quinta. A 1 Clav. Andante
17. Variatio 16 Ouverture. a 1 Clav. 
18. Variatio 17 a 2 Clav. 
19. Variatio 18 Canone alla Sesta. A 1 Clav. 
20. Variatio 19 a 1 Clav. 
21. Variatio 20 a 2 Clav. 
22. Variatio 21 Canone alla Settima (a 1 Clav.)
23. Variatio 22 a 1 Cla. Alla breve
24. Variatio 23 a 2 Clav. 
25. Variatio 24 Canone all'Ottava. A 1 Clav. 
26. Variatio 25 a 2 Clav. Adagio
27. Variatio 26 a 2 Clav. 
28. Variatio 27 Canone alla Nona. A 2 Clav. 
29. Variatio 28 a 2 Clav. 
30. Variatio 29 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
31. Variatio 30 Quodlibet. a 1 Clav. 
32. Aria da Capo