Holloway: Gilded Goldbergs

Robin Holloway writes in his notes for this record that 'It seems both odd and foolish to take one of the acknowledged pinnacles of western music and 'recompose' it'. But his 'Goldberg adventure' (as he calls it) began with modest aims as a didactic piece. Frustrated as a single pianist by inability to clarify the close-weave canons or manage the more fiendish hand-crossing so idiomatic on a twomanual harpsichord, he began to transcribe a few for two pianos. Over the next few years he became absorbed with the task and ended up with another 30 completely new 'Goldberg' variations which have delighted and entertained audiences who've been lucky enough to hear the work. Here it is played by the exciting Micallef-Inanga Piano Duo who have made a speciality of the piece.

Since it plays for 120 minutes two discs are needed to accommodate it, so here they are for the price of one.

CDA67360  97 minutes 46 seconds (2 discs)
RECORD OF THE MONTH (GRAMOPHONE)
DISC OF THE WEEK (THE SUNDAY TIMES)
‘Intriguing, witty and wholly engaging … a marvellous work … whatever your CD priorities to date, this one surely has to fly straight to the top of your wants list’ (Gramophone)
‘Rarely has a new composition impressed me as strongly as this one’ (American Record Guide)
‘Stimulating and immensely enjoyable music … the discs have seldom been off my player in recent days—the work draws one back and draws one in, and I'm sure this will be the reaction of many who a ...