J. S. Bach: Goldberg Variations (Simone Dinnerstein, piano)

"The Variations are named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer. ... The tale of how the variations came to be composed comes from an early biography of Bach by Johann Nikolaus Forkel: "[For this work] we have to thank the instigation of the former Russian ambassador to the electoral court of Saxony, Count Kaiserling, who often stopped in Leipzig and brought there with him the aforementioned Goldberg, in order to have him given musical instruction by Bach. The Count was often ill and had sleepless nights. At such times, Goldberg, who lived in his house, had to spend the night in an antechamber, so as to play for him during his insomnia. ... Once the Count mentioned in Bach's presence that he would like to have some clavier pieces for Goldberg, which should be of such a smooth and somewhat lively character that he might be a little cheered up by them in his sleepless nights. Bach thought himself best able to fulfill this wish by means of Variations'" (Wikipedia).
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