Mihály Borbély Piano Recital Presented by Liszt Academy

For a long time, a popular legend circulated regarding the origins of the Goldberg Variations: supposedly, Count Hermann Carl von Keyserlingk commissioned the work from Bach so that his resident young keyboardist – one Johann Gottlieb Goldberg – could perform it for him during his sleepless nights. However, neither Goldberg’s name (who may have been too young around 1741 for such a demanding work) nor the Count’s appears on contemporary editions, despite the 18th-century custom that mandated composers credit their patrons.

The thirty variations are built upon a slow, dance-like aria – which also frames the entire work – whose melody appears in the notebook Bach dedicated to his second wife, Anna Magdalena, though its authorship remains a subject of debate.

This evening, one of the Baroque master’s most complex and awe-inspiring compositions will be performed by Junior Prima Prize winner Mihály Berecz. Praised by critics for his refined, stylistically authentic, and meticulous interpretations, Berecz has already graced the world’s most prestigious concert halls with great success, establishing himself as a formidable talent of his generation.