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Göteborgs Konserthus Víkingur Ólafsson and the Goldberg Variations
The acclaimed Icelandic pianist is back in Gothenburg with his sensitive interpretations of classical masterpieces. In the hands of Víkingur Ólafsson, Bach's immortal Goldberg Variations are passed on to a new generation.
Concert length: 1 h 30 min
Scene: Stora salen
380-540 SEK
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Saturday 2 March 2024 15.00
The acclaimed Icelandic pianist is back in Gothenburg with his sensitive interpretations of classical masterpieces. In the hands of Víkingur Ólafsson, Bach’s immortal Goldberg Variations are passed on to a new generation.
He is called Iceland’s Glenn Gould. This time, Vikingur Ólafsson brings the legendary Glenn Gould’s main parade number to Gothenburg – the Goldberg Variations by Johann Sebastian Bach.
Vikingur Ólafsson’s piano interpretations of Bach compositions were named record of the year by BBC Music Magazine in 2019. The fresh versions of nearly 300-year-old pieces have an ability to touch in all their simplicity. It sounds both familiar and unexpected. “The Icelandic pianist has an almost unique ability to make counterpoint sing,” The Spectator wrote.
As mythical as the peculiar Canadian pianist Gould was, the Goldberg Variations have been perceived as just as magical by music lovers around the world. The details of the 80-minute solo work have been studied in minute detail. It consists of two arias, one at the beginning and one at the end, with 30 variations in between. The key is the continuous bass and it is the bass that is intricately varied and embellished with ornaments, melodies and changing tempos. As Bach wrote for harpsichord and organ with double keyboards, it is an extra challenge on a piano to get the fingers to match, wich often results in crossed hands.
It has been said that Bach wrote the piece for a count who needed music to help him sleep. But there is nothing soporific in the music, and it is known today that the pieces were begun even before Bach met the count. The person who performed the work at the premiere was harpsichordist Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, and hence the name.
In any case, Bach has given us priceless music that now travels towards eternity in Vikingur Ólafsson’s hands.
Thanks to generous support from the Sten A Olsson Foundation, we get to experience Víkingur Ólafsson in this concert.
Listen
Get to know Víkingur Ólafsson.
Get to know Glenn Goulds iconic album.
Programme
Saturday 2 March 2024: The event ends at approx. 16.30
Participants
Questions? Contact the ticket office
031-726 53 00 
biljett@gso.se Read more in the blog
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3 May 2023 Låt oss växa tillsammans
Våra företagspartners spelar en avgörande roll. Med musiken som förenande kraft gör vi Västra Götaland till en starkare och mer inkluderande region – tillsammans.
Read more in the magazine
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