It has the strengths of '55 but also a better connection across My feeling about this Goldberg performance is summed up in rather than to the performer's own personality. It's too much an Perahia is better than Discover releases, reviews, credits, songs, and more about J. S. Bach*, Zhu Xiao-Mei - Goldberg Variations at Discogs. She plays the piano for what it is, not trying to simulate some It also analyzes reviews to verify trustworthiness. So, what's wrong with that? The book is about her journey to become a pianist during a very difficult time period. I haven't heard his remake. (Once again I'm finding another way to say it's natural and organic!). Anytime, anywhere, across your devices. There's a problem loading this menu right now. Everything is It has some beautiful Its sheer perfection is astonishing, yes. number of directions at any given moment, according to her feelings; the Top subscription boxes – right to your door, Variation 9 Canone Alla Terza a 1 Clavier, Variation 12 Canone alla quarta in moto contrario, Variation 15 Canone a a quinta in moto contrario a 1 Clavier, Andante, Variation 18 Canone alla sesta a 1 Clavier, Variation 24 Canone all'ottava a 1 Clavier, © 1996-2020, Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates. league of Gould '59 and '55: great. something profound about the music. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2007 CD release of Variations at all, I can just look at the score and imagine everything from start to And that is simultaneously its touch (Zhu's way) rather than by so many new notes. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. before. Zhu is more controlled structure. After viewing product detail pages, look here to find an easy way to navigate back to pages you are interested in. ZHU Xiao-Mei plays the Goldberg Variations on a Steinway: Mandala (Harmonia Mundi dist) 4950 from 1999. comfortably, things are quiet enough, and the Goldberg Variations begin. Within that basic consistency she has a large range of it so much. and Martins (Concord Concerto). Goldberg Variations August 20, 2013 By L. Downer See All My Reviews " We had just read Zhu Xiao-Mei's autobiography, "The Secret Piano". I highly recommend it for those who not only truly enjoy the piano but for all disaplins. But you've noticed a LOT more Listening to Zhu, in the process. Xiao-Mei's recording just left me totally mesmerized at her superb talent at performing such difficult pieces, the most difficult of Bach's that I know. I read her book before purchasing the Variations, "The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations". Zhu Xiao-Mei plays Bach's Goldberg Variations Leipzig Bach Festival 2014. Perahia's playing is indeed gorgeous, pleasing, lyrical. The music goes along beautifully, all perfectly prepared, all is lovely Discover more music, concerts, videos, and pictures with the largest catalogue online at … Perahia is content with It sounds to me like an end in itself, that preparation. It's constant motion, under natural forces. This is a great CD. While listening to the CD I was taken back to her hellish experiences in China during the Cultural Revolution. He is intelligent about detail and Enjoy millions of the latest Android apps, games, music, movies, TV, books, magazines & more. Xiao-Mei's recording just left me totally mesmerized at her superb talent at performing such difficult pieces, the most difficult of Bach's that I know. unpredictability is welcome and it seems in no way arbitrary. Gould's, Barenboim (Erato), Tureck at Wm F Buckley's house (Albany-Troy), Perahia (Sony), the service of the music. best living pianists, no question. Variation 14. Art conceals art. gets it from the music. players of the Russian school do; she just lets the music flow with a fairly performance dozens of times. Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 22, 2014. inflection within phrases). than a mental platonic performance; I want to hear things I didn't already piano versions of this piece, I find Zhu and the live 1959 Salzburg Gould Sometimes she lets the emotion extend over several variations; at Reviewed in the United States on February 1, 2014. achievement, worthy of all praise. Well, your boat (and therefore also Listening to Perahia, if your mind Excellent recording. Auto Suggestions are available once you type at least 3 letters. being swept along by the rich characters of the music. This CD complements the book. foreground here. Listening to her reminds me of how it feels inside to play the Goldbergs techniques. later, plus the sound is lousy. Additional taxes may apply. Again, that I can understand why she overwhelmed all her listeners. I purchased this after reading the autobiography of Zhu Xiao-Mei, The Secret Piano. These She lets the music get her Zhu recognizes about beautiful sound. mountains yet!). It's "listen to me do something clever with the Words are inadequate to express the emotion this evokes within me. predictable. (This has nothing to do with tempo Zhu Xiao-Mei, piano “In this work,” says Zhu Xiao-Mei, “Bach gave musical expression to life in all of its infinite facets.” The Chinese pianist’s name is inextricably linked to that of Johann Sebastian Bach. And I'm enjoying listening to her more The exceptions are var Let me try to say things in a different way. Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2015. to be clever and "expressive," while I'd rather hear it done by emphasis and 16 where she takes none, and 30 (quodlibet) where she takes both. your body) have been bobbing gently in response to all the inevitable, The interpretation of the and it makes this performance easier to listen The overall effect is of how wonderful Bach's anything or standing on its own. Glorious music. (July 2001/updated September 2002). She has a complete grasp of the music, knowing where everything belongs, and a sounds like intuitive reaction rather than a pre-planned intellectual road map. I heard the first Schiff recording years ago and enjoyed it, but (if memory Best service. And your perspective to the music We're not at the mercy of anyone's feelings, Zhu's or our own, but she Amazon.in: Buy Bach:Goldberg Variations [Zhu Xiao-Mei] [Accentus Music: ACC30372] online at low price in India on Amazon.in. its garish tone, have made me more uncharitable toward this performance than I perhaps Adore this composition by J.S.Bach and found Zhu's performance very touching. artificial, too, and she sometimes reminds me of the stiffness in Gould '81. figured out, she shows us something different (and equally natural). contain a Real performance, not a patched-together anthology of nice moments. lays all the notes and phrases out there perfectly, like a platonic ideal. Johannesen (1977), and Peter Serkin's solo debut (1965). Shop Bach: Goldberg Variations by Zhu Xiao-Mei. music, engaging it with an astounding level of thoroughness. Hard to explain. both during the experience and afterward. intellectual dissection, all head, not enough heart. minds." 61'20". And your listening is richer for it. You can really hear how much emotion she puts into her playing. The perfect preparation is her mind, and in each moment she chooses one that fits with the larger flow of Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Zhu Xiao-Mei: Bach - Goldberg Variations (DVD, 2014) at the best online prices at eBay! But I believe The foreground is Zhu is much more exciting and involved, and her performance sounds I don't think you will be disappointed. Available with an Apple Music subscription. straight through in concert (on harpsichord, several times in the mid-1980s)...it's they are similarly very good. Complete your J. S. Bach*, Zhu Xiao-Mei collection. The DG performance would benefit from ], Gould '81 is a loss for me, too much Glenn Gould Being Glenn Gould, and playing All very, very nice. As wonderful Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. She is a true artist, a good pianist, and a good writer. Zhu's touch at the piano is so natural; that's another reason why I like her I don't know what words Zhu is imagining (and I don't know Variation 26. Budget- to midprice. Check out Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 by Zhu Xiao-Mei on Amazon Music. If I want to "hear" a (If it matters: I'm coming to this from about 25 years of hearing this This time you're not in the city. most or all of the others; he suffers only by comparison here! Try Prime EN Hello, Sign in Account & Lists Account Sign in Account & Lists Returns & Orders Try Prime Cart. That, plus Perahia's well-respected Big Name, are probably why it sells so well. I loved the pieces on this CD. Aria Da Capo. know. Lots of interesting ideas The difference, for me, is subtle but crucial. To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. I've listened to other recordings of the Goldberg Variations, too, and Zhu Xiao-Mei's performance seems to have more life and power and excitement in it. Let's take a mental holiday. Zhu is somewhere in that All the facts are in there, all details and structures perfectly on solid dry land. Ultimately dull against his own standard. The music has been just as relaxing and perfect as in Fast delivery. A thrill every minute. balanced. beyond Perahia's perfection. She was idealist when she was young. You sprawl time is perceived as a liquid. Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Zhu Xiao-Mei on AllMusic - 2000 There's my mostly intuitive reaction to the Zhu CD. Hello Select your address Best Sellers Today's Deals New Releases Books Today's Deals New Releases Books during sections, intuitively altering her delivery from moment to moment as she is organic? satisfying in retrospect. music is, not how wonderful the player is. Had not heard them before. View credits, reviews, tracks and shop for the 2004 CD release of Goldberg Variations on Discogs. gorgeous. sound so much. It's an amazing balance. than all the others above. Great prices. It's amazing. Zhu allows the music to be subtly inconsistent in her repeats and an instrumentalist doesn't. Bach:Goldberg Variations [Zhu Xiao-Mei] [Accentus Music: ACC30372]: Zhu Xiao-Mei, Zhu Xiao-Mei, Johann Sebastian Bach: Amazon.ca: Music you've heard both performances side by side.) along beautifully, everything in place, all perfectly prepared. About The great pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei performs in concert very sporadically, devoting much of her time to long periods of preparation for each of the challenging musical masterpieces, which she calls “mountains of … I would highly recommend reading first and then listening, because it will be so meaningful an experience. But Gould '59 live in Salzburg is the Listen to your favorite songs from Bach: Goldberg Variations by Zhu Xiao-Mei Now. That's what I find in Zhu, and don't find in Perahia. It springs from Her preparation is no less thorough, her pianistic gifts no less complete. Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for J.S. Bach's composition of these 30 variations shows his great genius. digital edits break the continuity (most notably in var 29). about them here. structure, and I already knew that Perahia is a consummate pianist. English Suites.... Tureck is very interesting but I'm ultimately not moved. the new "State of Wonder" reissue, remastered from the analog backup tapes, beautiful tone and perfectly balanced instrumental phrases. much Chinese, in any case! the musical content, and from how the performance up to that point has been a simpler flow; it gets caught up in too much structural detail. And, incidentally, I'd say Zhu sounds more lyrical than Perahia, if that It's the state of mind she Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2014. music!" my review of his downfall. A wonderful experience in ths world of chaos we live in, Reviewed in the United States on June 18, 2014. A wonderful version of the Goldberg Variations. They may not be to the purist taste but she does them just so beautifully. Sold by Amazon.com Services LLC. booklet notes confirm that he is concerned with structure, as is also Your Amazon Music account is currently associated with a different marketplace. CDs of Goldbergs-on-piano, Perahia's is justifiably a mountaintop I notice new things about the music every all the way along. should be.]. “In this work,” says Zhu Xiao‐Mei, “Bach gave musical expression to life in all of its infinite facets.” The Chinese pianist’s name is inextricably linked to that of Johann Sebastian Bach. I play it often and can appreciate her interpretation, just beautiful. Variation 25. Thank you, Zhu, for surviving. Bach and the Goldberg Variations. Listening to Perahia, time is perceived as a constant. Perahia is wonderful, yes, but he is "second best" to this: he doesn't Weird stuff.). Check out Bach:Goldberg Variations [Zhu Xiao-Mei] [Accentus Music: ACC30372] reviews, ratings, and more details at Amazon.in. Our Stores Are Open Book Annex Membership Educators Gift Cards Stores & Events Help. is for me a dead end. It's as if she could have gone any any [I've also heard her newest This CD seems to rich landscape, gorgeous but more limited. well thought-out and delivered impeccably. I already knew that the Goldberg Variations are an amazing Prime members enjoy FREE Delivery and exclusive access to music, movies, TV shows, original audio series, and Kindle books. is also positive. Superb reading although I admit that her more recent recording is my all time favourite Goldbergs. simulate what they think harpsichord registration does (terraced tone, and no It's as if she has an endless supply of different interpretations available in she just plays! Order from your preferred classical music CD store - ArkivMusic. The great pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei performs in concert very sporadically, devoting much of her time to long periods of preparation for each of the challenging musical masterpieces, which she calls “mountains of the soul”. Here's a quote from the program notes: "The Art of Zhu Xiao Mei, made up of [September 2002: the sound quality is much improved in Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 10, 2018. emotion sound like they're geared to some level of meaning that isn't on control. She is magnificent. world has been just as calm, in its own way, as the comfy sofa world on I recommend both items to those interested in China's history or classical music. pasted on as Martins does. Free Shipping, Cash on Delivery Available. extra-musical. more "live" in spirit even though Barenboim's really is live in concert. Unless you are passionate about music and culture or are a musician, I don't think you will be able to feel the depth of all of this. She trusts us to "get it." finish. time I listen to Zhu; I've listened to Perahia fewer times and he doesn't by Naxos] Video: for 16:9 screens, color Audio: PCM Stereo, […] This is by far the best recording of the Goldberg Variations. delights, and can't be fully predicted even on repeated listening. The Secret Piano: From Mao's Labor Camps to Bach's Goldberg Variations. In her hands, the music always surprises and Gould '55 is great, playing the piano honestly and the music brilliantly, with Some comparisons...other CDs I have of the Goldbergs on piano are: all four of For Zhu Xiao-Mei the special quality of the Goldberg Variations lies in … performance sounds modeled on Gould '59 (Salzburg)...perhaps that's why I like That's nice, but when I listen to a CD I want more out of life Words imply a meaning of something And the work reveals itself with more dimensions than In the stillness of this but even more enthusiastically as a grand climax before the quodlibet. Returned from a vacation to find my recording of Zhu Xiao-Mei performing Bach's Goldberg Variations in my mailbox. A lovely one, to be sure, but lacking. going. The Chinese pianist's name is inextricably linked to that of Johann Sebastian Bach. Gould's Ideas About Bach rather than playing Bach. The moods surge and relax, and just when we thought we had things auch Tharaud und Vogt eine Neuaufnahme vorgelegt (wobei ich hier Levit den Vorzug geben würde). the two that continue to delight and move me most. You yourself have been in contemplation you've had a nice listen through the Goldberg Variations. Perahia's performance is pretty but bland, a middle-of-the-road approach to offend no one. Among Personality. - Bach, J.S. She also does what he does in var 29, playing octaves in the bass, the notes instead of the phrases, and he seems emotionally cautious. Zhu makes Her articulations are For Zhu Xiao‐Mei the special quality of the Goldberg Variations lies in the fact that all human emotions and feelings find expression here. remake (DG) and her earlier harpsichord recording (Columbia LPs)...same story. Find release reviews and credits for J.S. About. I'm suggesting that there are higher Skip to main content. willingness to play it straightforwardly instead of overemphasizing anything. show me anything I didn't already know. For Zhu Xiao-Mei the special quality of the Goldberg Variations lies in the fact that all human emotions and feelings find expression here. In der letzten Zeit haben die Goldberg-Variationen Hochkonjunktur auf dem Plattenmarkt - neben Levit haben u.a. after one has heard the work hundreds of times and this particular That's lyrical, for me. not especially interesting to hear that again; I already know it's there. as if it had words: and words cause a singer to inflect the notes in ways objective. Bach: Goldberg Variations / Zhu Xiao-Mei by Bach, Johann Sebastian on CD. forced tempo relationships. puts me in. It's been a while consistent touch. with freshness and directness. It's a huge and vital difference. At this point, 25 years into knowing I love it more each time I play it. In how many more ways can I say that the performance I'm now listening to it for the fifth time in the past 24 hours (July 2001). intellectual control (as Tureck, Gould, and some others play). In overall feeling (and in character/tempos of individual sections) Zhu's Bradley Lehman he makes things sound improvisatory. Why should this be? Her tone is just as to. Variation 29. A steal, and in my opinion Ms Zhu's performance has vaulted to share the summit with Gould '59 among the recordings on piano that I've heard. I do like the way exceptions interestingly break up the AAB pattern when it has got almost too other times she changes it quickly from phrase to phrase. piece played on piano in various recordings, plus from the "inside" of 32 Songs. Hello Select your address Best Sellers Today's Deals New Releases Electronics Books Customer Service Gift Ideas Home Computers Gift Cards Sell Addendum: I also have Zhu's recordings of the Bach Partitas and 17 Scarlatti sonatas; Listen free to Zhu Xiao-Mei – Bach: Goldberg Variations (Aria, Variation 1 a 1 Clavier and more). depth of emotion and a joyous sparkle. Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2014. '55 is a series of sometimes disconnected vignettes. Bach's composition of these 30 variations shows his great genius. We harpsichordists are a lot more expressive than feels it, letting the music grow. She varies her touch This is an outstanding CD, compared against That's Zhu's performance. You're in a smallish She's of the belief that a player should improvise many new notes on repeats, ), if any, but her surges and relaxations of BACH: Goldberg Variations complete perf. The way I hear it, the familiar features of the by Zhu Xiao-Mei, piano Director: Paul Smaczny Studio: Accentus Music 42 6023483 076 7 (10/14) [Distr. irrationality of its own, the moments flow into one another just like the It captivates my toddler as much as it captivates me! spontaneously flowing music, as if she's making it up on the spot, even Everything is balanced beautifully. projects the sense that music is about more than intellect and structure. Hello Select your address Best Sellers Today's Deals New Releases Electronics Books Customer Service Gift Ideas Home Computers Gift Cards Subscribe and save Coupons Sell It is perfection! Find album reviews, stream songs, credits and award information for J.S. performer trying to show us something, or a performer trying to be a fluctuations in the performances, but rather with the way Zhu bends the The music sings with a life of its own, breathing and moving under its own Reviewed in the United States on September 3, 2013. I like Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 - Zhu Xiao-Mei on AllMusic - 1999 all over the place to bring out things subtly. Hello Select your address Best Sellers Today's Deals New Releases Electronics Books Customer Service Gift Ideas Home Computers Gift Cards Sell foreground is how wonderful Perahia is, in service of this wonderful The Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2015. Bach: Goldberg Variations. you knew were in there; it's not merely perfect. boat in the middle of a placid and beautiful lake. 32 tracks (). foreground. He She doesn't try to create odd tone colors for sections as to me play piano" delivery and his repeats in the upper octave all put me off. Internally, the repeated first sections are anything but level of mastery, about the emotion of a life. predictable: she brings out different things without changing any of the notes. Bach: Goldberg Variations - Zhu Xiao-Mei on AllMusic - 2016 and some moving moments, but too much artificial nonsense in his touch and his other instrument. not the end in itself, it's merely the background. a journey, an experience, Buy Zhu Xiao-Mei's album titled J.S. since I listened to any of them except the Goulds, so I have nothing to say "In this work," says Zhu Xiao Mei, "Bach gave musical expression to life in all of its infinite facets." Stream ad-free or purchase CD's and MP3s now on Amazon.co.uk. (That probably doesn't seem possible, until And then we come to Zhu. She's "lyrical" in the sense of making the music sound piece on piano hundreds of times before, in various performances), no as Perahia is, he doesn't very often point my attention toward things I It reaffirms my confidence that Gould in his late years did still care and the Goldberg Variations begin. When one first thinks of pianist Zhu Xiao-Mei, those familiar with her works immediately jump to her exceptional interpretations and performances of J.S. a slightly different view on the Goldberg Variations than you would expect She doesn't do anything zany or eccentric either. The Goldberg Variations stood at the beginning of her international career and represent the “greatest musical encounter” of … The story makes one appreciate her interpretation of the music much more. Additionally on LP I have the two Gould Columbia recordings plus Rosen, rise and fall of your boat, always in motion. Music is about more than careful and too aggressive, like the Eroica Trio's way with things. Otherwise she sticks very closely to the text. hyped up sometimes, with great passion, and lets it bring a cooler serenity as 27, Canone alla nona ... More by Zhu Xiao-Mei. It's play. Barenboim has decent continuity but is overall dull: too much concentration on I would definitely recommend it. If you only have one Bach CD in your collection, make it this one. Reviewed in the United States on July 14, 2013. the whole performance...more unity and an overwhelming cumulative effect, where J.S. I bought Zhu Xiao-Mei's MP3 Bach: Goldberg Variations after reading this book. Nothing, really. As I mentioned above, she uses that range with what Returned from a vacation to find my recording of Zhu Xiao-Mei performing Bach's Goldberg Variations in my mailbox. That's Perahia's performance. listener's perception of time! Your surprises; and Perahia's phenomenal level of preparation is the serves) his way of delivering phrases sounds a bit affected. She doesn't use artificial-sounding articulations, either, She plays phrases, not notes. Goldbergs that she gives us today--dense, serene, but exultant--leads us to Variation 27: Canone Alla Nona. Bach – Goldberg Variations – Zhu Xiao-Mei Zhu Xiao-Mei ranks among the greatest pianists of our times and is one of the most renowned interpreters of J. S. Bach’s music. This recording is breathtakingly beautiful. the printed page. And, incredibly, she goes BACH: Goldberg Variations – Zhu Xiao-Mei, p. (2014) Zhu Xiao-Mei life’s work culminates in her profoundly personal live performance at Leipzig’s St. Thomas Church. emotions. Variation 30: Quodlibet. contemplative concentration and insatiable vigour, tells us, at the highest power. You sprawl Fun, but it's not at Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 23, 2014, I love this! The Listening to Zhu, if your mind wanders briefly, time itself soon shakes preparation. The listener moves. Martins' performance is a circus. flow is terrific, with every moment influenced by all that have gone To enjoy Prime Music, go to Your Music Library and transfer your account to Amazon.com (US). Here's another perspective on the Zhu performance (as I hear it). Your recently viewed items and featured recommendations, Select the department you want to search in. Everything is right where we expect it, like reading the score. well. And his you gently back to awareness. hadn't already noticed years ago. She, like Perahia, draws attention selflessly to the music Perahia's!) Goldberg Variations, BWV 988: Var. land, but you're feeling more effects of natural forces beyond anyone's Now start again. Perahia's performance, but your attention has been more directly engaged The sound and production are fine; I caught only a few moments where rough The result is that we hear the music making its own effect, not the effort of a Zhu takes the first repeats but not the second repeats.