Sarah MacDonald - J S Bach / Goldberg Variations (2024)

Bach’s Goldberg Variations are regarded as one of the pinnacles of the solo keyboard repertoire. This first solo piano recording by distinguished choral director, composer, pianist. and organist, Sarah MacDonald is the product of the Covid pandemic motivating her to learn, perform and record this major work. It is accompanied by her written notes on each variation in the form of diarised entries, following her personal journey through the musical, medical, professional, and social challenges that occurred over time, as the lives of us all adapted in response to Covid 19. The entries are personal, self-effacing, and include a healthy dose of humour, illustrated with examples of her talent as a keen amateur photographer.

Sarah MacDonald – recording in Ely Cathedral on the Cathedral’s own fine recent Steinway – explores the unique character of each variation, showcasing their musical depth, melodic beauty, harmonic originality, and contrapuntal ingenuity. The Cathedral’s luminous and radiant acoustic adds another dimension not usually found in recordings on the piano.