Reviews
National Post, January 5, 2004
CD Reviews:
Classical — Tamara Bernstein
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THE NEW GOLDBERG VARIATIONS |
The New Goldberg Variations for cello and piano started off as a celebratory project: a music-loving couple named Robert and Judy Goldberg, who were friendly with a number of leading artists, including cellist Yo-Yo Ma — decided to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary by commissioning a handful of contemporary composers to write their own variations on the theme of Bach's famous — and conveniently titled — Goldberg Variations. Sadly, shortly after the project got underway, Robert was diagnosed with cancer; within months he was dead. His widow proceeded with the commissions, its celebratory intention now transformed by loss.
The contributors, some of whom were friends of the Goldbergs, are among today's best-known U.S. composers: John Corigliano, Richard Danielpour, Kenneth Frazelle, Christopher Rouse, Peter Lieberson and Peter Schickele. The scoring is for cello and piano.
Frazelle opens the variations with a wistful, spacious memorial to Robert Goldberg. Several composers responded to the dance character of many of Bach's variations — Lieberson's seems to invite choreography. In Corigliano's Fancy on a Bach Air, the solo cello soars but with a heavy heart; Schickele paired an exquisitely gentle, simple variation with a rocking jazz dance. My favourite, perhaps, is Danielpour's Fantasy Variation: a reservedly lush, mysterious movement where the piano circles the meditative cello like a guardian angel, the two never quite able to connect.
Bravi to cellist Tanya Prochazka and pianist Jacques Després; these outstanding, Edmonton-based artists bring humanity, integrity and an enormous expressive range to the pieces. Després frames the variations with poetic performances of the Bach theme that engendered them.
©Tamara Bernstein, 2004