Goldberg Variations

Harpsichordist and organist Jean Rondeau is known for the insights and spontaneity he brings to Baroque music, while remaining deeply rooted in its traditions.

A regular collaborator across musical genres, he approaches JS Bach with imagination, lyricism, wit and insight. The Goldberg Variations have long been central to Rondeau’s musical life. In this performance on the Queen Elizabeth Hall organ, Rondeau offers a distinctive view of a work more often heard on harpsichord or piano.

Built around an exquisitely simple aria and unfolding across 30 variations, the piece moves through shifting characters and textures while never straying far from its underlying theme. Dance rhythms sit alongside intricate canons. Moments of quiet introspection open up to brilliance and exuberance. First published in 1741 as music ‘for music lovers, to refresh their spirits’, the Goldberg Variations continues to invite reflection and renewal in the 21st century.

Through the resonant sounds of the organ, Bach’s epic design is transformed in new colours, revealing both intimacy and architectural breadth.