Goldberg Variations BWV 988
Discography - Part 2

Complete Recordings 1950-1959

< Part 1: Complete Recordings 1900-1949

Part 3: Complete Recordings 1960-1969 >

1

J.S. Bach: Complete Piano Works - Album I: The Goldberg Variation; The C minor Passacaglia [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Gunnar Johansen (Double Keyboard Piano)

Artist Direct

1950-1951

2-LP / TT:

Recorded at Gunnar Johansen's house, Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, USA.

2

J.S. Bach: Clavierübung - Vol. 7 [H-7]
J.S. Bach: Clavier-Übung [Box Set] [B-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [42:55 / 43:07]

Ralph Kirkpatrick (Harpsichord)

Haydn Society
Music & Arts 3056/62, 9035

Aug 1952

LP / TT:
4-CD / TT: 270:30

1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by R. Kirkpatrick.
Buy this album at:
Box Set: Amazon.com | Amazon.com

3

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-13]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Jörg Demus (Piano)

Westminster WL-5241

Jan 1953

LP / TT:

Recorded in Vienna, Austria.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by J. Demus.
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988 (1953): Complete Work [Sequence; 32 Tracks; TT: 49:25]
Buy this album at:
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

4

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Gustav Leonhardt (Harpsichord)

Vanguard Classics / Bach Guild
Artemis 1281

Jun 1953

CD / TT: 54:19
CD: TT: 55:19

Recorded at Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Leonhardt.
Review: Leonhardt’s Goldberg on Vanguard
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Gustav Leonhardt
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com
Artemis Music Download: ClassicsOnline

5

J.S. Bach: Complete Works for Harpsichord Vol. 7 [A-7]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [YT: 83:35]

Isolde Ahlgrimm (Harpsichord) [1937 Ammer harpsichord and the 1941 pedal harpsichord]

Philips A 00 267-8 L

Jan 15-24; Mar 19, 1954

2-LP / TT:

1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by I. Ahlgrimm.
The first of GV on the harpsichord with all of the repeats observed.
Issued in 1955. Re-issued in 1976 in two boxes of 10 LPs: 6747053/4.
Listen on YouTube:
2-LP: Complete Album [105:10]
00:00:00: Goldberg Variations BWV 988
01:23:35: Aria & Variations in the Italian Style in A minor, BWV 989
01:42:12: Aria & Variations in C minor, BWV 991

6

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-2]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Eunice Norton (Piano)

Unpublished

Mar 20, 1954

Reels / TT: 50:00

Recorded in Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
2^nd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by E. Norton.

7

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988; Piano Concerto, BWV 1052; Partita No. 5, BWV 829

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [42:30 / 42:18]

Glenn Gould (Piano)

CBC
Urania

Jun 21, 1954

CD / TT: 42:30
CD / TT: 78:11

1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Gould.
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Glenn Gould
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com

8

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 [K-2]
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations / Partita No. 5 (Gould) (1954-55)

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Glenn Gould (Piano)

Sony
World Classic
Naxos Historical 8.111247

Jun 10, 14 & 16, 1955

CD / TT: 38:40
CD / TT:
CD / TT: 51:47

Recorded at 30^th Street Studio, New York City, NY, USA.
2^nd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Gould.
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Glenn Gould
Buy this album at:
Sony CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com
Naxos Music Download: ClassicsOnline

9

Bach: Goldberg Variations [E-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Zuzana Ruzickova (Harpsichord)

Supraphon SUA 10192

c1955

LP / TT: 60:00

1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by Z. Ruzickova.

10

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [44:36 / 44:55]

Karl Richter (Harpsichord)

Telefunken LK40115
London

Jan 18, 1956

LP / TT:
CD / TT: 44:36 / 44:55

Recorded at Osterstrasse, Hamburg, Germany.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by K. Richter.
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Complete Work [44:46]

10a

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations; Partitas Nos. 1-6 [K-2]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [44:40]

Karl Richter (Harpsichord)

Teldec

Jan 1958*

2^nd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by K. Richter.
*Comparison of this recording with the 1^st recording of GV by K. Richter from Jan 18, 1956 reveal that they are indentical.
Review: Karl Richter Performs Bach’s Partitas & Goldbergs
Buy this album at:
2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.de [Partitas]

11

J. S. Bach: Masterpieces for Solo Piano [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [44:51]

James Friskin (Piano)

Bach Guild BG-558
Vanguard Classics
Artemis Classics 1247

Mar 27-28, 1956

LP / TT:
2-CD / TT: 139:34

Recorded at Masonic Temple, Brooklyn, NY, USA.
Review: Bach Keyboard Music from James Friskin
Buy this album at:
2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | ClassicsOnline

12

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

William Corbett-Jones (Piano)

Music Library Recordings

1956

LP / TT:

13

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-3]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [49:56]

Eunice Norton (Piano)

YouTube

Apr 9, 1957

Reels / TT: 49:56

Recorded in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA.
3^rd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by E. Norton.
Listen to this recording (5 parts)
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Complete Work [49:18]

14

Glenn Gould in Moscow [K-20]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Variations 3, 18, 9, 24, 10, 30 [7:25]

Glenn Gould (Piano)

Melodiya 1001606

May 12, 1957

CD / TT: 44:56

Recorded live at the Small Hall of the Moscow Conservatoire, Moscow, Russia.
3^rd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Gould.
Buy this album at:
CD (2012): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

15

Rosalyn Tureck II: Bach (Great Pianists of the 20^th Century) [K-5]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [93:58 / 93:45]

Rosalyn Tureck (Piano)

HMV ALP-1548/1549
Philips

Jun 17, 19, 24, 26, 28-29 & Aug 14, 16, 19-20, 23, 26, 28 + 30 & Sep 2 + 16 & Oct 11, 1957

LP / TT:
2-CD / TT: 155:45

Recorded at Abbey Road Studios, London, England.
2^nd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by R. Tureck.
Review: Young Rosalyn Tureck’s Goldberg Variations
Review: Tureck vs harpsichord in the Goldbergs
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Rosalyn Tureck
Buy this album at:
Philips 2-CD: Amazon.com

16

Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

André Tchaikowsky (Piano)

RCA Unreleased

Dec 13, 17 & 23, 1957

Unreleased recording.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by A. Tchaikowsky.
Source: André Tchiakowsky Website

17

Bach: The Goldberg Variations [K-1]
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations [K-1]
Bach: The Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [K-1]
J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations; English Suite No. 5 [K-1]
Bach: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [BMC: 48:42; Past Classics: 49:39; Heritage: 49:47; YT: 49:41]

Millicent Silver (Harpsichord)

The Classics Club ‎X-509 (1957)
Saga XID-5220 (1959)
Baroque Music Club BHP-901
Past Classics (2009)
=
Heritage HTGCD-194 (2017)
Archipel Records ARPCD-0719 (2022)

1957 or earlier

LP / TT:
LP / TT:
CD / TT: 71:10
CD / TT: 50 min
MP3 / TT: 49:39
CD / TT: 73:00
CD/MP3 / TT: 48:06

Milicent Silver recorded the Goldberg Variations during the 1950's in her own studio in London. It was first issued privately, then in 1957 by Classics Club in Britain, and later by the Saga label.
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Part 1 [25:36] + Part 2 [23:08] | Complete Work [49:51] | Aria & Variations 1-15 [25:20] + Variations 16-30 & Aria da capo [24:20]
Buy this album at:
CD-1 [BMC]: Baroque Music Club
CD-2 [Past Classics, 2009]: Amazon.com
Music Download: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
CD-3 (Heritage, 2017): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download (Archipel, 2022): Amazon.co.uk

18

Glenn Gould in Concert 1951-1960 [K-18]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [37:13]

Glenn Gould (Piano)

West Hill Radio Archives WHRA-6038
=

Jul 23, 1958

6-CD / TT: 423:44
MP3 / TT:412:29

Recorded at Orpheum Theatre, Vancouver, Canada during Vancouver International Festival.
4^th recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Gould.
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Glenn Gould
Buy this album at:
6-CD (2011): Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Music Download: Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

19

J.S. Bach: Goldberg Variations · Italian Concerto [K-5]
The Complete 1950s Bach Recordings on Archiv [Box Set] [B-2]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [43:38]

Ralph Kirkpatrick (Harpsichord)

Archiv Produktion / Deutsche Grammophon

Aug 30, 1958

CD / TT: 68:37
8-CD / TT: 597:27

Recorded at Jesus-Christus-Kirche, Berlin-Dahlem, Germany.
2^nd recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by R. Kirkpatrick.
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Complete Work [43:25] | Aria & Variations 1-15 [21:28] + Variations 16-30 & Aria da capo [22:24] | Complete Work [42:38] | | Aria & Variations 1-15 [21:24] + Variations 16-30 & Aria da capo [21:38]
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com
Box Set: Amazon.com

20

J.S. Bach: Variations Goldberg [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988

Jeanne Chailley-Bert (Harpsichord)

Decca 173.808

1958

LP / TT:

21

Glenn Gould live in Salzburg & Moscow - Bach: Goldberg Variations · Three-Part Inventions Nos. 2-15 [K-3]
Clenn Gould in Salzburg

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [37:07]

Glenn Gould (Piano)

Sony
Price-less

Aug 25, 1959

CD / TT: 61:06
CD / TT:

Recorded live at Salzburg Festival, Mozarteum, Austria.
5^th recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by G. Gould.
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Glenn Gould
Buy this album at:
CD: Amazon.com

22

Grete Sultan, The Legacy, Volume 1 [K-1]
Grete Sultan: Piano Sessions [Box Set] [K-1]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [78:03 / 78:07]

Grete Sultan (Piano)

Concord Concerto 42030
Labor Records 7037
Wergo WER-4043-2

1959

2-CD / TT: 137:00
2-CD / TT: 137:00
4-CD / TT: 287:45

Recorded at Finch Junior College, New York City, New York, USA.
Discussions: Goldberg Variations BWV 988 - played by Greta Sultan
Buy this album at:
Concord 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de
Labor 2-CD: Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.de
Labor Music Download: Amazon.com
Wergo 4-CD (2013): Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de

23

Frank Pelleg - Vol. 1 [K-4]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [YT: 43:05]

Frank Pelleg (Harpsichord)

Doremi DHR-7813/4

c1959

2-CD / TT:

Live Broadcast.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by F. Pelleg.
Listen on YouTube:
Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Complete Work [43:05]

24

Bach: Goldberg-Variationen [K-2]

Goldberg Variations BWV 988 [55:52]

Maurice Cole (Piano)

Saga ?

Late 1950's ?

LP / TT: 55:52

Recorded in England.
1^st recording of Goldberg Variations BWV 988 by Maurice Cole.

< Part 1: Complete Recordings 1900-1949

Part 3: Complete Recordings 1960-1969 >

The list of recordings was compiled by Aryeh Oron (January 2004 - June 2023)
Thanks to contributors: Allan Burns (February 2023); Matthias Hansen (June 2007); Edward Jasiewicz (January 2009); Thomas Radleff (February 2004); Serge Smirnoff (June 2013); Teri Noel Towe (August 2012)

Goldberg Variations BWV 988: Details
Copmplete Recordings: 1900-1949 | 1950-1959 | 1960-1969 | 1970-1979 | 1980-1989 | 1990-1994 | 1995-1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023
Comparative Review: Goldberg Variations on Piano: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
Comparative Review: Round-Up of Goldberg Variations Recordings: Recordings | Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7
Reviews of Individual Recordings: GV - R. Barami, J. Crossland, O. Dantone, D. Propper | GV - M. Cole | GV - J. Crossland | GV - E. Dershavina | GV - S. Dinnerstein | GV - R. Egarr [Lehman] | GV - R. Egarr [Satz] | GV - R. Egarr [Bright] | GV - Feltsman | GV- P. Hantai | GV - P. Hantaï (2^nd) | GV - K. Haugsand | GV - A. Hewitt | GV - R. Holloway | GV- H. Ingolfsdottir | GV- K. Ishizaka | GV - J. Jando | GV - B. Lagacé | GV - G. Leonhardt | GV- K. Lifschitz | GV - A. Newman | GV - T. Nikolayeva 3^rd | GV- J. Payne | GV - W. Riemer | GV - C. Rousset | GV - S. Schepkin, M. Yudina & P. Serkin | GV - A. Schiff [ECM] | GV- H. Small | GV - M. Suzuki | GV - G. Toth | GV - K.v. Trich | GV - R. Tureck [Satz] | GV - R. Tureck [Lehman] | GV- B. Verlet | GV - A. Vieru | GV - J. Vinikour | GV - A. Weissenberg | GV - Z. Xiao-Mei
General Discussions: Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Quodlibet in GV | GV for Strings
Discussions of Individual Recordings: GV - D..Barenboim | GV - P.J. Belder | GV - E. Dershavina | GV - S. Dinnerstein | GV - R. Egarr | GV - V. Feltsman | GV - C. Frisch | GV - G. Gould | GV - P. Hantaï | GV - R. Holloway | GV - J. Jando | GV - K. Jarrett | GV - G. Leonhardt | GV - V. Makin | GV - A. Newman | GV - S. Ross | GV - A. Schiff | GV - R. Schirmer | GV - H. Small | GV - G. Sultan | GV - G. Toth | GV - R. Tureck | GV - S. Vartolo | GV - B. Verlet
Articles: The Quodlibet as Represented in Bach’s Final Goldberg Variation BWV 988/30 [T. Braatz]