Tal and Groethuysen approach Bach's 'Goldberg Variations' through the eyes of not one, but two Romantics: both Joseph Rheinberger and Max Reger. Yaara Tal and Andreas Groethuysen - the paramount piano duo for years now - have a passion for exploring untrodden paths and delving into forgotten repertoire. With their latest 'find', they cast new light on the familiar Goldberg Variations.
In 1883, Joseph Rheinberger arranged Bach's magnum opus as a version for two pianos. He was a great admirer of Bach and his intention was, in the first place, to make a work written for the two-manual harpsichord - then no longer familiar - available to be played again in household circles, and thereby to bring Bach's brilliant music to wider notice. In addition, he enriched the original score with all kinds of harmonic and contrapuntal additions.
Twenty years later, Max Reger refined this arrangement, adjusting dynamics, articulation and tempi. The result is a version of the Goldberg Variations that has the air of a symphony, all the while retaining the spirit of Bach.
Before Tal and Groethuysen set about stupefying you with this glorious arrangement, they give a crystal-clear exposition from their keyboards of how Rheinberger and Reger went about arranging Bach's original.