In 1955, an unknown, young Canadian pianist arrived at a recording studio on 30th Street, Manhattan. He had just signed a contract with Columbia Records. He planned to play a lesser-known work by Bach, a lengthy, esoteric 38-minute (as he played it) variation. Company executives were skeptical, but they gave the green light.
After the album was released, audiences and critics alike were blown away by the newcomer on the international scene. The record became a bestseller, and the “Goldberg Variations” went from an unknown work to a pillar of the repertoire. (Listen)
