There is a strong but not unfriendly personality in this live performance of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." Whether or not it reflects the personality of pianist and teacher Tatjana Nikolajeva, it is a compliment to her. She plays the opening aria with a wide variety of ringing tones, woven into carefully shaped phrases, with the melody always clear. The first variation sets the stage for much of the rest of the work. It also has sensitive phrasing, but the animation and purposeful playing are what stand out. Nikolajeva has such formidable strength in her fingers, but an equally powerful control, so that she can alter colors and mold the music adeptly in both hands. The ...
There is a strong but not unfriendly personality in this live performance of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." Whether or not it reflects the personality of pianist and teacher Tatjana Nikolajeva, it is a compliment to her. She plays the opening aria with a wide variety of ringing tones, woven into carefully shaped phrases, with the melody always clear. The first variation sets the stage for much of the rest of the work. It also has sensitive phrasing, but the animation and purposeful playing are what stand out. Nikolajeva has such formidable strength in her fingers, but an equally powerful control, so that she can alter colors and mold the music adeptly in both hands. The result is an extroverted, positive, resolute set of variations. There are some gentle moments, such as in Variation 19, which Nikolajeva performs as a graceful minuet, but those moments are still solidly constructed. It isn't until the Adagio, Variation 25, that a more intimate nature is revealed in her playing, and that nature is also heard in the Aria da Capo as a sort of summation and winding down of the preceding pronouncement that is the "Goldberg Variations." Her encore for the recital was a transcription of "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring," played very lushly. There is almost no audience noise, except for the applause, to disrupt the clear, recital hall sound.
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Editorial Reviews
All Music Guide - Patsy Morita
There is a strong but not unfriendly personality in this live performance of Bach's "Goldberg Variations." Whether or not it reflects the personality of pianist and teacher Tatjana Nikolajeva, it is a compliment to her. She plays the opening aria with a wide variety of ringing tones, woven into carefully shaped phrases, with the melody always clear. The first variation sets the stage for much of the rest of the work. It also has sensitive phrasing, but the animation and purposeful playing are what stand out. Nikolajeva has such formidable strength in her fingers, but an equally powerful control, so that she can alter colors and mold the music adeptly in both hands. The ...