Jean Rondeau is one of the most remarkable harpsichordists of the younger generation. After one of his performances, the »Washington Post« wrote that he was »a master of his instrument with the sort of communicative gifts normally encountered in musicians twice his age«. For his recital at the Leipzig Bachfest, Rondeau has put together a programme consisting mainly of youthful works by Bach, including three of his wild and impetuous toccatas. The evening’s final piece also promises to be exciting, when Jean Rondeau plays a double transformation: his own harpsichord version of Johannes Brahms’ piano arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s famous Chaconne in D minor for solo violin.

No 121 Fantastic Bach

Altes Rathaus Leipzig

A shared passion for early music combined with an openness to many other genres prompted the harpsichordist Jean Rondeau, flautist Anna Besson, gambist Robin Pharo and violinist Louis Creac’h to found the quartet Nevermind in 2013. The ensemble focuses on interpretations of Baroque chamber music, but jazz, folk music and contemporary works also feature in Nevermind’s performances. In Leipzig, the quartet will present their own arrangement of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Unlike in the original version for harpsichord, Nevermind’s interpretation brings out quite different, diverse musical colours.

Bachfest Leipzig

Jun 18, 2025

No 121 Fantastic Bach

Jun 17, 2025

No 105 The Goldberg Variations transformed

Bachfest Leipzig