An air of leisure, if not outright luxury, pervades pianist
Ragna Schirmer's 1999 recording of J.S. Bach's Goldberg Variations. From the deluxe double-disc packaging -- many Goldberg recordings make do with only one CD -- to the taking of all repeats, this is a set for dedicated listeners who have ample time to appreciate the subtleties of Bach's art of variation, and the patience to devote nearly 87 minutes to hearing this work straight through. It would be unfair to suggest that
Schirmer plays the variations too slowly, or that the performance is in any way sluggish or tedious because she takes her time. Indeed, she is quite capable of imparting a feeling of virtuosity and brilliance as she skillfully works her way through the embellishments and the trickier passages of Bach's elaborate counterpoint, even though her tempo is never rushed for the sake of showing off. Instead,
Schirmer maintains a controlled beat that is steady and forward-moving enough to keep the notes together, yet paced as if there is no need to hurry past all the beautiful nuances and delicate expressions that are found everywhere in this work. One may be inclined to think that this is how the Goldberg Variations were meant to be played, as music of a "gentle and heartening character" to beguile the work's original commissioner, Count Keyserlingk, during his sleepless nights. Of course, Keyserlingk had the brilliant harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg to play these variations, so they very well might have been played at a fast clip. Even so,
Schirmer's relaxed and even playing seems more appropriate for music that was intended for nocturnal reverie, and the consistency of her approach makes this a very relaxing and soothing rendition. Berlin Classics provides exceptional reproduction, so
Schirmer's impeccable playing is clear and natural sounding throughout.