Philharmonia Chamber Players: Goldberg Variations

Programme

The Philharmonia’s Principal Viola Scott Dickinson and friends play one of the masterpieces of the Baroque era.  

The story goes that an insomniac Russian ambassador asked Bach to compose some ‘smooth and somewhat lively’ keyboard music, for his favourite musician, Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, to play to him to cheer his sleepless nights. Scholars debate how much of this is true, but there is no doubt that Bach’s aria and 30 variations are one of the musical pinnacles of the Baroque era.  

In this free Philharmonia Chamber Players concert, Bach’s masterly counterpoint (music composed from lines of melody that interlock in different patterns) is performed by three of the orchestra’s outstanding string players.  

Pop in just for this concert, or stay for our 7.30 performance of Bruckner’s Symphony No. 8 (separate ticket required).