Donald Satz wrote (October 5, 1999):
I had heard Konstantin Lifschitz's Denon recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations on the radio but did not have the opportunity to closely listen until I bought it last week. Lifschitz is a young pianist, and the recording was made in 1994.

While listening, I was filled with admiration for the technical skills that Lifschitz displyed. His fingers were just flying all over the keyboard. His expressiveness was very good, and he played Bach in an idiomatic manner. I have the feeling that he did not plumb the depths as extensively as a Tureck or Peter Serkin, but he wasn't far behind. Concerning virtuosity, Lifschitz takes a back seat to nobody.

The recorded sound was spectacular. No matter how I set my equalizer controls, the music sounded great; that's very unusual.

Although this is not a recording for the ages, I think that if Lifschitz records the work again in another 10 or 20 years, that recording will likely be in that high category. As it is, the current offering is very good indeed, and I'll be playing it often.

Don's Conclusion: High-end of Worthy of Purchase.

Feedback to the Review

Ramon Khalona wrote (October 6, 1999):
[To Donald Satz] I'm glad Don has taken notice of Lifschitz (his name was omitted on his "Great Pianists" list of a while back). He is a very thoughtful pianist who is building up a very interesting repertoire with a blend of old and more recent composers. Sample his London and Montreal debut recitals (on Denon and on Palexa, respectively) for more of his exciting music-making, including music of Couperin and Rameau (in Montreal he even played the second movement of Schubert's D. 959 as an encore!)

Clearly, he is not a pianist to be bound by conventional rules.

Konstantin Lifschitz: Short Biography | Recordings of Instrumental Works
Reviews of Instrumental Recordings: Goldberg Variations from Lifschitz