EDISON AWARD 2022

J.S. Bach Goldberg Variations

Hannes Minnaar

Challenge Classics / HQ|NORTHSTAR

Catalogue CC72859

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About the Album

We proud to present a new account of Goldberg Variations by critically acclaimed young pianist Hannes Minnaar.
His rendition of Goldbergs sums up all the features of a ‘contemporary’ interpretation at the highest degree:
- Transparent, detailed, and crystal-clear phrasing: each and all notes are discernible.
- A supreme – but not artificial nor mannered – control and care of tone and sound: touch, colour and timbre are all fruit of a clearly deep insight and work.
- A smooth flow of the discourse: a solid overall concept of the work structure and a plain, simple (never emphasized) ‘singing’ of the melodic line. (Even when he takes a very slow tempo – as in the famous Variation no. 25, about 30% slower than usual – he always sustains the melody, that means it is not the tempo that makes the melody living, but the capacity to make it flow, to ‘connect’ sounds and silences).
- These Goldbergs are not told as a narrative: it is not a dramatic tale, but the architectural structure is well visible. It is not a story, it is a three-dimensional visual art work.  
- Northstar gave Minnaar the sound that perfectly matches his concept of the work. The rest is made by the unique Chris Maene piano.
A ‘Goldberg’ for the 21st Century.

Album tracks

• 1 Aria
  

• 2 Variatio 1. a 1 Clav.

• 3 Variatio 2. a 1 Clav.

• 4 Variatio 3. Canone all’Unisono. a 1 Clav.
  

• 5 Variatio 4. a 1 Clav.
  

• 6 Variatio 5. a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
  

• 7 Variatio 6. Canone alla Seconda. a 1 Clav.
  

• 8 Variatio 7. a 1 ô 2 vero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
  

• 9 Variatio 8. a 2 Clav.
  

• 10 Variatio 9. Canone alla Terza. a 1 Clav.

• 11 Variatio 10. Fugetta. 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.

• 17 Variatio 16. Ouverture. a 1 Clav.
  

• 18 Variatio 17. a 2 Clav.

• 19 Variatio 18. Canone alla Sexta. 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 Clav. 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
  

DISC 2

• 1  I. Lontano
  

• 2 II. Toccata primo

• 3 III. Aria/Ayre (Ach wie flüchtig, ach wie nichtig/Flow my tears)

• 4 IV. Intermezzo sospeso
  

• 5 V. Evocazione BWV 854 (Berceuse)
  

• 6 VI. Toccata secundo
  

• 7 Aria (from BWV 988)