Britten Sinfonia & Thomas Gould - Bach: Goldberg Variations (arr Dmitry Sitkovetsky) (2015) [Official Digital Download 24/88.2]

The Britten Sinfonia s Associate Leader, Thomas Gould directs the ensemble in Dmitry Sitkovetsky s beautifully realised and heartfelt arrangement for strings of Bach s great keyboard work, 'The Goldberg Variations'. Sitkovetsky s arrangement (first conceived for string trio and later expanded for string orchestra), made in 1985 on the 300th anniversary of Bach s birth, is lovingly and painstakingly done. He dedicates the string trio arrangement to Glenn Gould, and it is clear from much of the written-out ornamentation that Gould s recordings of the Goldbergs were Sitkovetsky s passport into the music. The use of string instruments offers a range of expressive possibilities that a keyboard instrument does not, including the possibility of tuning notes expressively and colouring notes with vibrato but Sitkovetsky s real triumph is to preserve the simplicity of texture and clarity of development that characterises Bach s masterpiece, and as such is a true celebration of Bach s vision. Founded in 1992, the Britten Sinfonia is inspired by the ethos of Benjamin Britten through a deep commitment to bringing outstanding music to both the world s finest concert halls but also the local community. One of the world s most celebrated and pioneering ensembles it breaks the mould by not having a principal conductor or director, instead choosing to collaborate with a range of the finest international guest artists from across the musical spectrum, resulting in performances of rare insight and energy. Britten Sinfonia is an Associate Ensemble at the Barbican in London and has residencies across the east of England in Norwich, Brighton and Cambridge, where it is the University s orchestra-in-association. The orchestra also performs a chamber music series at Wigmore Hall and appears regularly at major UK festivals including Aldeburgh and the BBC Proms. Their growing international profile includes regular touring including in February 2012, its North American debut at Lincoln Centre, New York. ***** The Telegraph best classical music albums of 2015 'It is crisp, clear and buoyant with ornamentation deftly executed and rhythms kept on their toes - a delightful recording, captivating as much in the polish of the playing as in the discreet but lively musical characterisation.' Geoffrey Norris The Telegraph, October 2015

GRAMOPHONE EDITOR'S CHOICE 'Informed by their constant exploratory zeal in old and new terrain alike, the Britten Sinfonia shift the balance emphatically towards uncovering the breathtaking inventiveness of Bach … Thomas Gould's beguiling intimacy reappears … timbral suppleness, fizzing roulades and tight-knit dialogue predominate … Stellar Bach playing.' –Jonathan Freeman-Attwood - Gramophone, April 2015

Performance: **** Recording: ***** 'the Britten Sinfonia navigates the transcription with considerable panache … A stylish performance' Anna Picard BBC Music Magazine, April 2015 –––––– 'The playing on this release is superb … Through it all, the playing of the Britten Sinfonia is truly assured, and they pour their energy into making it work as best they can.' –Simon Thompson Music Web International, 8th June 2015

**** 'Led by Thomas Gould the Britten Sinfonia play with sinuous beauty and virtuosic clarity, with no clattering continuo instrument clogging the textures.' Richard Morrison The Times, 21st March 2015 ––– 'The gleeful inauthenticity of the transcription and of this performance on modern instruments would be mere curiosities if it weren t for the fact that they also show profound respect for the source material and manage to illuminate it in fascinating ways. … It is hard to imagine anyone not enjoying this disc, or even listening to it once without wanting to put it straight back on again.' Kimon Daltas Sinfini Music, 15th April 2015 –––– 'Without a weak moment in the entire work and in stunningly good SACD sound, this is a Goldberg Variations to acquire and hang onto for dear life, for it is indeed life-enhancing.' –Dominy Clements Music Web International, 24th April 2015

TRACKLIST
01. Aria (3:34)
02. Variation 1 (1:52)
03. Variation 2 (1:24)
04. Variation 3, Canone all' Unisono (2:10)
05. Variation 4 (1:01)
06. Variation 5 (1:26)
07. Variation 6, Canone alla seconda (1:11)
08. Variation 7, al Tempo di Giga (2:19)
09. Variation 8 (1:52)
10. Variation 9, Canone alla Terza (1:28)
11. Variation 10, Fugetta (1:29)
12. Variation 11 (2:01)
13. Variation 12, Canone alla Quarta (1:54)
14. Variation 13 (3:42)
15. Variation 14 (2:07)
16. Variation 15, Canone alla Quinta (4:32)
17. Variation 16, Ouverture (2:54)
18. Variation 17 (2:07)
19. Variation 18, Canone alla sesta (1:25)
20. Variation 19 (1:57)
21. Variation 20 (2:05)
22. Variation 21, Canone alla settima (2:55)
23. Variation 22 (1:16)
24. Variation 23 (1:53)
25. Variation 24, Canone all' ottava (2:33)
26. Variation 25, Adagio (5:51)
27. Variation 26 (2:02)
28. Variation 27, Canone alla nona (1:58)
29. Variation 28 (2:10)
30. Variation 29 (2:11)
31. Variation 30, Quodlibet (1:39)
32. Aria (3:52)