Simone Dinnerstein plays Bach's Goldberg Variations
Bach: Goldberg Variations. If you've ever questioned the value of owning different interpretations of the same musical work, just listen to this interpretations and compare it to that of Gould, or Landowsa, or anyone else. The artist, of course, makes a great difference. And this artist is one of the greats. Among the great interpretations of this work I find that hers resonates with me personally. This is intimate and sensitive. A Bach keyboard piece sounding romantic? That's how this interpretation strikes me. Whatever the details, it has affected the several people I have shared it with, and all agree that it is exceptional. You will think so too.

this is a fantastic recording
i have to start by saying that i'm pretty sure this is my first amazon review ever. years of using amazon, years of reading reviews here. but this is the first time i've been moved to contribute a review. and it's not just because this is a wonderful recording (although it certainly is a wonderful recording). it's also to help any fellow shoppers here by balancing out the nonsense with some hopefully useful comments.

first of all, this is nothing like glenn gould. if you worship at the altar of glenn gould, it's very unlikely that you will enjoy this CD. if you think glenn gould's version of the goldberg variations is the "one true version" then you are missing the point and nothing in an amazon review can possibly persuade you otherwise.

but if you are open to new possibilities, if you are open to experiencing an amazing piece of music through a different lens, if you think there is no correct answer to the question "what is the most perfect way to play the goldberg variations?" you may love this CD.

the artist brings a very different reading to this music. it's piano based, rather than harpsichord music played on a piano. and to my ears, that makes it a much more enjoyable listen.

i would also just say that it is amazing and fantastic that a young woman from brooklyn recorded a version of the aria from the goldberg variations in the year 2007 that gave a 250 year old piece of music one of it's most fantastic interpretations ever. that blows my mind every time i hear it.

in short, listen to the aria, buy this CD, ignore the nonsense and posturing in these reviews. you won't regret it.

(p.s. anyone who is whining about "marketing" and "oprah" is betraying their own prejudices. i saw no marketing for this album, and was completely unaware that she appeared on oprah until i read it here. that makes no difference. the album is fantastic on it's own merits. grow up.)

I suppose that in some way..........
....that this piece shall always remind me of the scene in "Silence of the Lambs" where Dr. Lechter is listening to the Glenn Gould recording of it in his jail cell just before all hell breaks loose. Of course, many consider the Gould version definitive; it is fabulous, but I contend that we will never hear definitive until we hear Bach play it Up Yonder. Bach's mind worked in ways that only God can comprehend...the music sometimes sounds simple, but... Then, there's the question of what instrument will Bach play it on. Discussions of Bach are endless, which gives rise to my own theory that God created him so that the writing of Heaven's music could be delegated to a mortal man....

...Which brings us to Miss Dinnerstein, and the recording at hand. She has picked one of many possible interpretations; who can say she's wrong? [Only Bach could--see above]. She takes it slowly, and thoughtfully, giving us all the repeats, though she has plenty of energy when a particular variation calls for it. OK, that makes for a long recording. So what? This is Bach we're talking about; there are no precise rules. Having chosen a particular tack, she follows it superbly. Of course, the technical aspects of the record are perfect...Telarc.

Miss Dinnerstein is a very pretty girl, just starting her career. Beauty should be irrelevant in discussion of a classical musician, no matter how relevant it is for a pop singer, or an Indy 500 driver. Still, good looks never hurt marketing, and never will. You may not like her interpretation of the "Goldberg Variations", and that's OK. Bach represents perfection; all we mortals can do is grasp.

Terrible sound quality
Avoid this CD. The sound quality is downright awful. It is so painful to listen to this disk that any thoughts of a "performance" have to laid aside.

Having heard two equal CDs, I had to accept the fact that the problem was not just one "bad" disk, but a bad recording. I am dumbfounded how the label could release this trash.

Unnecessary
With so many great Goldberg Variations around, one can't help but wonder where the need for this album is. Don't get me wrong, it's not actually bad, but neither is it especially good. It's OK if you're a collector or are not that interested in Bach, or got this as a present, or...

However, if you're looking for a decisive version of this piece on modern piano: Go for the two versions of Glenn Gould, go for Angela Hewitt, go for the (underestimated) Andrei Gavrilov, maybe Murray Perahia's recent recording, almost any other really. The options are close to unlimited.