Bach: Goldberg Variations – Ji

   in Piano International (May, 2018)
Ji is Ji-Yong Kim, something of a celebrity in his native South Korea, and not to be confused with his Chinese contemporary, Ji Liu. Warner Classics’ release of the Goldberg Variations is Ji’s first commercial recording, unlike his Chinese rival who has four solo discs to his credit. Nonetheless Ji, still in his mid-twenties, has acquired a degree of popularity – or notoriety depending on your view – through his video of the Moonlight Sonata‘s finale on two pianos, one tuned with every key set to middle C.

There have been several formidable Goldberg recordings by young pianists, from Glenn Gould to Ji’s Warner stable-mate, Beatrice Rana. Sadly, Ji’s is …