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Background

• Published in 1741, and named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have first performed the work.
• A keyboard composition consisting of an aria and a set of thirty variations. On the title page, Bach specified that the work was intended for the harpsichord.
• The Handexemplar, Bach's personal copy of the published score, was discovered in 1974 in Strasbourg by Olivier Alain and is kept in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris.

Recordings

• Goldberg Variations
  Mahan Esfahani (Harpsichord)
  Deutsche Grammophon
  BBC Music Magazine (2016): Instrumental Choice
  BBC Music Magazine Awards (2017): Winner Instrumental
  Gramophone Magazine (2016): Editor's Choice
  Gramophone Awards (2017): Shortlisted Baroque Instrumental.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2016).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2016): Finalist

• Goldberg Variations.
  Thibaut Garcia (Guitar), Antoine Moriniere (Guitar).
  ERATO.

• Goldberg Variations (Arr. Dmitry Sitkovetsky).
  Britten Sinfornia.
  Thomas Gould.
  Harmonia Mundi.
  Gramophone Magazine (2015): Editor’s Choice.

• Goldberg Variations.
  Angela Hewitt (Piano).
  Hyperion.

• Goldberg Variations (Arr for Ten-String Guitar Duo).
  Duo Synaphe.
  Dimitar Ivanov, Angela Kleger.
  NAXOS.
  International Classical Music Awards (2022): Nominated Baroque Instrumental
  
  
• Goldberg Variations Live at Carnegie Hall
  Yunchan Lim (Piano)
  DECCA
  BBC Music Magazine (2026): Instrumental Choice
  Presto Recording of the Week (2026)

• Goldberg Variations
  Vikingur Olafsson (Piano)
  Deutsche Grammophon
  Financial Times (2023): Best Classical Albums of the Year.
  Presto Recording of the Week (2023).
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2023): Winner
  Sunday Times (2023): 10 Best Classical Albums of the Year.
  International Classical Music Awards (2024): Nominated Baroque Instrumental.
  Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Bestseller of the Year
  Grammy Awards (2025): Winner Best Classical Instrumental Solo.

• Goldberg Variations
  Murray Perahia (Piano)
  Sony
  Gramophone Awards (2001): Winner Instrumental

• Goldberg Variations Reimagined.
  Brecon Baroque.
  Rachel Podger (Violin). Chad Kelly.
  Channel Classics.
  Presto Editor’s Choice (2023).
  
  
• Goldberg Variations
  Beatrice Rana (Piano)
  Warner Classics
  Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor's Choice
  Gramophone Awards (2017): Finalist Instrumental
  Presto Recordings of the Year (2017): Finalist.
  The New York Times (2017): Recordings of the Year

• Goldberg Variations
  Andras Schiff (Piano)
  ECM New Series
  Radio 3 (2012): Building a Library First Choice

• Goldberg Variations
  Trio Zimmermann.
  BIS.
  International Classical Music Awards (2019): Nominee Baroque Instrumental.
  ​Limelight Magazine Recordings of the Year (2019): Nominated Chamber.

About Coram Deo

Coram Deo — before the face of God. This blog reflects on Scripture, world events, science, music, psychology, and the human mind — always through the lens of Christian faith. All of life is lived before the face of God.