Bach strikes vital chord with pianist

Bach's Goldberg Variations, first published around 1741, is a musical peak that most major pianists have attempted to scale over the past centuries.

Icelandic pianist Vikingur Olafsson has dreamed of recording this work for more than 20 years. On Oct 6,2023, he released an album of his interpretations of Bach's Goldberg Variations on Deutsche Grammophon, the world's oldest classical music label, founded in 1898.

During the 2023-24 season, the pianist is dedicating his performances to the Goldberg Variations with a world tour, performing in major venues across six continents, such as London's Southbank Centre in the United Kingdom, New York's Carnegie Hall in the United States and the Sydney Opera House in Australia.