1-7. Johann Sebastian Bach - French Suite No. 5 in G major
8-20. Philip Lasser - Twelve Variations on a Chorale by J.S. Bach
21-22. Ludwig van Beethoven - Piano Sonata No. 32 in C minor, Op. 111
23. J.S. Bach - Goldberg Variations, - Variation 13
American pianist Simone Dinnerstein will release her second album on Telarc on September 2nd in Canada. The CD is a live recording of Ms. Dinnerstein’s recital debut at the Kammermusiksaal of the Philharmonie in Berlin, which took place on November 22, 2007.
Dinnerstein chose this program because of how the pieces speak to each another, and because of their relationship to the music of Bach. “My hope with this concert was to program a group of pieces that would contrast with and relate to each other, despite being separated by hundreds of years,” she explains. “So much music written since Bach has been influenced by him, and the Beethoven and the Lasser recorded here are no exceptions. Philip Lasser’s variations on the very dark Bach chorale, Nimm von uns, Herr, du treuer Gott (Take from us, Lord, Thou faithful God), draw on Bach’s intense and meditative side. Lasser’s writing is intricately crafted and encompasses a range of styles, from a contrapuntal energy reminiscent of Bach, to French Impressionism and even jazz. Beethoven’s Opus 111 sounds surprisingly contemporary in this company. The first movement looks ahead to Liszt and the second movement, with its set of variations on a chorale-like arietta, looks back to Bach and ahead to jazz. All three works are densely layered, but also have a sense of freedom and directness of expression. Though they span almost 300 years, in many ways, to me, they each feel grounded in the present.”
Price: $15.98