For the past couple of months, I’ve been thinking a lot about how J.S. Bach fits into a 21st century world (Great Works of Art do not stay relevant by themselves). In the process, I’ve tripped across American pianist Lara Downes, who has picked up a 2004 project that commissioned new solo-piano responses to Bach’s Goldberg Variations.
Downes is coming to Gallery 345 on Jan. 13 with 13 Ways of Looking at the Goldberg, and from what I’ve been listening to of this cycle, as interpreted by Downes, this is a remarkable and provocative program.
I’ll have more, including an interview with Downes, soon. In the meantime, here’s a teaser:
John Terauds
John Terauds, Editor-Emeritus of Ludwig van Toronto, is currently a Divinity student at the University of Toronto and a church music director. He joined the Toronto Star in 1988, was the classical music critic from 2005 to 2012, and continues as a freelance critic for the paper. He is the co-author of Roy Thomson Hall: A Portrait, a book written with Toronto Star Colleague, William Littler.
Latest posts by John Terauds (see all)
- Classical Music 101: What Does A Conductor Do? - June 17, 2019
- Classical Music 101 | What Does Period Instrument Mean? - May 6, 2019
- CLASSICAL MUSIC 101 | What Does It Mean To Be In Tune? - April 23, 2019
