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Lang Lang - Bach Goldberg Variations is a deeply personal performance and makes Classical101's 'Favorite Recordings of 2020'

Critics needled Luciano Pavarotti for being "too famous". Needle all you want, he was still Pavarotti and he was famous because his singing was magnificent. This is starting to happen for Lang Lang. Too famous! Baloney. A superb pianist, he brings fire and drama, and a sense of what is between the notes, to his new recording of the Goldberg Variations.

You don't need to throw away your Glenn Gould recordings. Most of us first heard the Goldbergs from the Canadian master. I'm partial to a recording on the harpsichord by Pierre Hantai-with all of the repeats. Lang Lang uses the variations and his piano to tell a story. There's nothing abstract in this deeply personal performance. The two CD features the repeats and Lang Lang isn't afraid of rubato. This is Bach out of the classroom, and into your soul.

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