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Bach: The Goldberg Variations album cover

Album guide

Bach: The Goldberg Variations

Jacques Loussier Trio

Composer
J.S. Bach
Released
2000
Label
Telarc
Forces
Piano, Trio
Personnel
Jacques Loussier, Benoît Dunoyer de Segonzac, André Arpino

Before returning to Bach, Loussier had recorded Vivaldi, Satie and Ravel, projects he said brought new ideas to his approach.

He called the transfer of Bach’s two-manual harpsichord writing to one keyboard ‘challenging’, and said he revoiced passages ‘to make the music technically playable’ while keeping each variation’s compact form.

Reviewed I absolutely wore this CD out!

Hear both

The classical side contains only the source pieces used on the album, in album order. The jazz side presents the complete album whenever a dependable copy can be embedded.

The originalsGlenn Gould · complete work

Glenn Gould’s complete 1955 recording represents the full source work.

Jazzed upJacques Loussier Trio · 2000
Open full album in Spotify

Spotify’s player is here for convenience; the full track listing below remains available to everyone.

Source works

The album’s complete track listing, with each classical source identified and original compositions marked plainly.

  1. AriaGoldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria
  2. Variation 1Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 1
  3. Variation 2Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 2
  4. Variation 3Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 3
  5. Variation 4Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 4
  6. Variation 5Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 5
  7. Variation 6Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 6
  8. Variation 7Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 7
  9. Variation 8Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 8
  10. Variation 9Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 9
  11. Variation 10Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 10
  12. Variation 11Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 11
  13. Variation 12Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 12
  14. Variation 13Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 13
  15. Variation 14Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 14
  16. Variation 15Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 15
  17. Variation 16Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 16
  18. Variation 17Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 17
  19. Variation 18Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 18
  20. Variation 19Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 19
  21. Variation 20Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 20
  22. Variation 21Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 21
  23. Variation 22Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 22
  24. Variation 23Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 23
  25. Variation 24Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 24
  26. Variation 25Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 25
  27. Variation 26Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 26
  28. Variation 27Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 27
  29. Variation 28Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 28
  30. Variation 29Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 29
  31. Variation 30Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Variation 30
  32. Aria da capoGoldberg Variations, BWV 988: Aria da capo

The review

Bach, truly unlocked

Although I knew I loved Loussier’s jazzed-up Bach through his Air on the G String, which was used very memorably for those Hamlet cigar TV adverts that I saw all through my childhood – this was the first full jazzed-up classical album I’d ever properly listened to when I was in my 20s, and I absolutely wore this CD out!

I have to admit, it took me a lot of time to warm up to Bach when I was younger – and I really think this isn’t helped by the habit that most concert pianists have of playing Bach in an overly serious, intellectual, and constipated way. Just my opinion of course... And then I found Glenn Gould’s 1955 recording of the Goldbergs, which was a revelation to me! It was only a few years later that I came across Loussier’s version, and Bach was truly unlocked for me. What I think these two recordings have in common is a sheer exuberance and joy – an unselfconscious delight in the music for its own sake without being concerned about what critics might think. I believe many ‘serious’ pianists could learn a huge amount from Loussier’s version.

And we shouldn’t forget that in Bach’s time, many of these are dances! What better way for us, a modern audience, to be reminded of the groove – the pleasure of bodily entrainment to the rhythms – than by listening to a jazz trio that get the toes tapping! But it’s not just about superficial fun and enjoyment, although there’s plenty to be had... there’s also a real sensitivity from all three players here that leads us on a deep but beautiful journey.

It’s interesting to note that Glenn Gould himself had once commented on Loussier’s good musical taste, saying of the jazzed-up “Play Bach” series that made him famous: “Play Bach is a good way to play Bach”. I couldn’t agree more! Have a listen above and see what you think – and since Gould’s recording is sitting right there too, try them back to back to hear what they share...

Reviewed by Bob Rose ·