Johann Sebastian Bach: The Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

3 June 2026

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)

Cond. Mahan Esfahani · Deutsche Grammophon

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2016): Instrumental Choice
🏆 BBC Music Magazine Awards (2017): Winner Instrumental
🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2016): Editor's Choice
🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2016): Finalist

Goldberg Variations Live at Carnegie Hall

Yunchan Lim (Piano)

Cond. Yunchan Lim · DECCA

🏆 BBC Music Magazine (2026): Instrumental Choice
🏆 Presto Recording of the Week (2026)

Goldberg Variations

Vikingur Olafsson (Piano)

Cond. Vikingur Olafsson · Deutsche Grammophon

🏆 Presto Recordings of the Year (2023): Winner
🏆 Grammy Awards (2025): Winner Best Classical Instrumental Solo
🏆 Opus Klassik Awards (2024): Bestseller of the Year

Goldberg Variations

Angela Hewitt (Piano)

Cond. Angela Hewitt · Hyperion

Goldberg Variations

Murray Perahia (Piano)

Cond. Murray Perahia · Sony

🏆 Gramophone Awards (2001): Winner Instrumental

Goldberg Variations

Beatrice Rana (Piano)

Cond. Beatrice Rana · Warner Classics

🏆 Gramophone Magazine (2017): Editor's Choice
🏆 Gramophone Awards (2017): Finalist Instrumental
🏆 The New York Times (2017): Recordings of the Year

Goldberg Variations

Andras Schiff (Piano)

Cond. Andras Schiff · ECM New Series

🏆 Radio 3 (2012): Building a Library First Choice

Goldberg Variations Reimagined

Rachel Podger (Violin), Chad Kelly

Brecon Baroque

Cond. Rachel Podger · Channel Classics

🏆 Presto Editor's Choice (2023)

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