Christ Church Cathedral, Vancouver
Goldberg Variations
Artists: The Pacific Baroque Orchestra (Chloe Meyers & Majka Demcak, violins; Joanna Hood, viola; Elinor Frey, cello; Soile Stratkauskas, flute; Matthew Jennejohn & Lot Demeyer, oboes; Ellis Reyes, bassoon) directed by Alexander Weimann
Pre-Concert Chat: 7pm with Alexander Weimann hosted by Christina Hutten
An iconic monument in Western music, J.S. Bach’s Goldberg Variations have delighted and intrigued listeners for centuries. Pushing the boundaries of keyboard music of the time, the Goldberg Variations demonstrate Bach’s technical development, virtuosic finesse, and compositional sophistication.
In this performance, Alexander Weimann leads the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in an arrangement of the Goldberg Variations for chamber ensemble of winds and strings. The Variations will be paired with the Trio Sonata in C Major by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, long attributed to Bach.
“As a keyboardist, the Goldberg Variations have long delighted and inspired me. While there are existing arrangements of the work for baroque chamber ensemble, including Chad Kelly’s recent project for Beacon Baroque, my approach to Bach’s writing incorporates the Trio Sonata No. 4 in C Major by Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (long attributed to Bach) that I’ve woven into the Variations. It has been supremely rewarding to place myself in Bach’s mind, imagining how he himself might have orchestrated the work for strings, winds, and harpsichord.”
– Alexander Weimann
Generously sponsored by Mark De Silva.
Runtime: 75min + intermission
PROGRAMME
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750)
Goldberg Variations 1 to 15, BWV 988
Johann Gottlieb Goldberg (1727-1756)
Trio Sonata No. 4 in C Major
Adagio
Alla breve
Largo
Gigue
INTERVAL
J.S. Bach
Goldberg Variations 16 to 30, BWV 988
Click here to read the programme notes by Alexander Weimann.
Alexander Weimann, keyboards & direction
The internationally renowned keyboard artist Alexander Weimann has spent his life enveloped by the therapeutic power and beauty of making music. Alex grew up in Munich. At age three he became fascinated by the intense magic of the church organ. He started piano at six, formal organ lessons at 12 and harpsichord at university (along with theatre theory, medieval Latin and jazz piano.) He is in huge demand as a director, soloist and chamber player, traveling the world with leading North American and European ensembles. He is Artistic Director of the Pacific Baroque Orchestra in Vancouver and teaches at the University of British Columbia where he directs the Baroque Orchestra Mentorship Programme.
Alex has appeared on more than 100 recordings, including the Juno-award-winning album “Prima Donna” with Karina Gauvin and Arion Baroque orchestra. His latest album series “The Art of Improvisation” (Volume 1: A Prayer for Peace; Volume 2: Ad libitum; and Volume 3: Caravan Variations, released on Redshift, 2024) unites his passions for both baroque music and improvisation on organ, harpsichord, and piano.
Pacific Baroque Orchestra
The ‘house band’ of Early Music Vancouver, The Pacific Baroque Orchestra (PBO) is recognized as one of Canada’s most exciting and innovative ensembles performing “early music for modern ears.” Formed in 1990, the orchestra quickly established itself as a force in Vancouver’s burgeoning music scene with the ongoing support of Early Music Vancouver. In 2009, PBO welcomed Alexander Weimann as Director. His imaginative programming, creativity and engaging musicianship have carved out a unique and vital place in the cultural landscape of Vancouver.
PBO regularly joins forces with internationally-celebrated Canadian guest artists, providing performance opportunities for Canadian musicians while exposing West Coast audiences to a spectacular variety of talent. The Orchestra has also toured throughout BC, the northern United States, and across Canada. Their 2019 East Coast Canadian tour with Canadian soprano Karina Gauvin culminated in a critically acclaimed album, Nuit Blanches, released by Atma Classique.
