Bach: Goldberg Variations CD review – simplicity and wit from Lars Vogt

Lars Vogt (piano)(Ondine)Every keyboard player wants to play Bach’s Goldberg Variations, immortalised for modern times by Glenn Gould in two sets of recordings, and by András Schiff among countless others. The German pianist Lars Vogt refers to this 75-minute work as a “sacred object”. It was 17 years before he was ready to record it. Informed by period performance practice but playing on a modern grand, Vogt uses very little pedal and keeps ornaments clean and graceful.