Nevermind

The Goldberg Variations

What does a 18-century count do when he can’t sleep? He commissions some music for his harpsichordist to play in the late hours. The result: one of the world’s most beloved works, performed countless times over the nearly 300 years since Johann Sebastian Bach first put the score on paper.

Whether the legend of the count with insomnia is entirely true is uncertain, but regardless of its origin, Bach’s intricate and beautiful Goldberg Variations have secured an iconic place in music history and popular culture, appearing in The Sopranos, The English Patient, and The Silence of the Lambs.

At Håkonshallen, the Goldberg Variations are presented by Nevermind, who have arranged the piece for a baroque quartet, featuring flute, violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord. The early music quartet, comprised of Anna Besson, Louis Creac'h, Robin Pharo, and Jean Rondeau, has performed on prestigious stages across four continents since its foundation in 2013. This is Nevermind’s first visit to Norway. Rondeau is considered among the world’s leading harpsichordists, and his solo recording of the Goldberg Variations is frequently celebrated as an exemplary rendition.

Photo: Rita Cuggia

Venue

Håkonshallen

Contributors

• Nevermind 

• Anna Besson flute

• Louis Creac’h violin 

• Robin Pharo viola da gamba 

• Jean Rondeau harpsichord, organ

Music by

• Bach 

Works

• Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750)
  The Goldberg Variations Clavier Suite, BWV988
  Aria mit verschiedenen Veränderungen (Aria with diverse variations):

  Aria
  Variation 1–29
  Quodlibet
  Aria da capo
  
  Nevermind transcription for violin, flute, viola da gamba and basso continuo

  Robin Pharo, Jean Rondeau transcription leads

  Robin Pharo editor in chief
  Project created as part of a creative residency at the Bel-Air Claviers Festival in 2023.