Every keyboard player wants to play Bach’s Goldberg Variations, immortalised for modern times by Glenn Gould in two sets of recordings, and by András Schiff among countless others. The German pianist Lars Vogt refers to this 75-minute work as a “sacred object”. It was 17 years before he was ready to record it. Informed by period performance practice but playing on a modern grand, Vogt uses very little pedal and keeps ornaments clean and graceful. Textures are transparent. The simplicity, wit and honesty of his approach makes this a wonderful addition to the catalogue by a versatile musician - recently appointed music director of the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Sage. Lucky them.
