Bach: Goldberg Variations (Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, 2025)

25th April 2025: Carnegie Hall has been sold out for months in anticipation of Yunchan Lim’s return to perform Bach’s Goldberg Variations. The whole world watched as a moment of musical history was made. 70 years earlier – and just a few blocks from Carnegie Hall –  a 22-year old Canadian called Glenn Gould made a recording of the Goldbergs which was also destined for legendary status. Decca Classics is now proud to present the next chapter in the history of this timeless music and an extraordinary young artist.
 
The New York Times:
“I assumed that the increasing depth of Lim’s “Goldbergs” during the concert might have been him settling in. But after, I wondered if he’d had the intention, or at least the instinct, to turn Bach’s journey into the account of a young man growing up.”
 
Yunchan Lim:
“To me, this piece is the journey of the human life told through music—Bach’s portrayal of existence itself. Performing a piece like this is why I do music.”
 
“The first time I heard Bach’s Goldberg Variations was when I was eight years old and I discovered a box set of Glenn Gould’s Bach recordings. When I first listened to it, I was amazed by its grandeur and beauty, and it has remained close to my heart ever since. I’ve dreamt of releasing this piece as a live album from Carnegie Hall.”

Tracklisting:

01. 1. Aria
02. Var. 1 a 1 Clav. 
03. Var. 2 a 1 Clav. 
04. Var. 3 Canone all'Unisono a 1 Clav. 
05. Var. 4 a 1 Clav. 
06. Var. 5 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
07. Var. 6 Canone alla Seconda a 1 Clav. 
08. Var. 7 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav. Al tempo di Giga
09. Var. 8 a 2 Clav. 
10. Var. 9 Canone alla Terza. A 1 Clav. 
11. Var. 10 Fughetta. A 1 Clav. 
12. Var. 11 a 2 Clav. 
13. Var. 12 Canone alla Quarta. (a 1 Clav.) 
14. Var. 13 a 2 Clav. 
15. Var. 14 a 2 Clav. 
16. Var. 15 Canone alla Quinta. A 1 Clav. Andante
17. Var. 16 Ouverture. a 1 Clav. 
18. Var. 17 a 2 Clav. 
19. Var. 18 Canone alla Sesta. A 1 Clav. 
20. Var. 19 a 1 Clav. 
21. Var. 20 a 2 Clav. 
22. Var. 21 Canone alla Settima (a 1 Clav.)
23. Var. 22 a 1 Cla. Alla breve
24. Var. 23 a 2 Clav. 
25. Var. 24 Canone all'Ottava. A 1 Clav. 
26. Var. 25 a 2 Clav. Adagio
27. Var. 26 a 2 Clav. 
28. Var. 27 Canone alla Nona. A 2 Clav. 
29. Var. 28 a 2 Clav. 
30. Var. 29 a 1 ô vero 2 Clav.
31. Var. 30 Quodlibet. a 1 Clav. 
32. Aria da Capo