Bach/Rondeau: The Goldbergs Live

 

I am enormous fan of Jean Rondeau and have been mesmerized for days listening to, and deciding whether or not I'm in love with his recent live recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations recorded in connection with the Netherlands Bach Society in the intimate Concertgebouw Brugge.  

So, do I like it?  Absolutely.  I'm in love with it, in fact. The recording has caused a stir, some of it by Rondeau's wildman, unkempt hair and casual rockstar aloof air, but that would be among the stupidest of reasons to be turned off by what turns out to be some of the most fascinating interpretations in modern times of Bach's beloved masterpiece for the keyboard. 

Rondeau approaches the entirety of the work as if unlocking a mystery that is not really a mystery and taking us on an amazing journey of discovery that goes beyond mere virtuosity and digs into the beautiful grit of Bach.  I'm blown away by his performance.  

There are sometimes what seem like great or exaggerated luftpausen between the variations, and at first my anxiety caused me to opine:  "oh, just get on with the next one already!"  I'm embarrassed to admit this, now most of all because what Rondeau does in exposing the breath and depth of Bach's work in EVERY SINGLE VARIATION is worthy of considered reflection, even if only for a moment, before moving on to the next discovery, which he opens up like an oyster revealing its pearl to our (or at least my) amazement.  Then, tying it all together Rondeau soulfully returns us to what I feel Bach would have us see; the sky almost imperceptibly lightening in that moment before the sun rises on another day.

It's a chunk of time - over 1.5 hours - but at its end, I felt my love for Bach - which is never waning anyway - to be even more invigorated and refreshed, as if having spent the night with this music in something as valuable and beautiful as dreams.  I also came away for a deeper respect for Monsieur Rondeau's gifts, his commitment to the composer, and the depth of his passion in Bach's landmark work.  Merci, Jean!