The Frankfurt Bassoon Consort is formed by eight bassoons and a contrabassoon. Its guiding spirit Henrik Rabien has arranged Bach's Goldberg Variations for this unusual ensemble – a daring feat whose success has been undisputed ever since the acclaimed premiere in May 2013.
Rabien's work systematically maintains the original key of G major/G minor. The instruments merely require transposition down by an octave – with a sensational effect: the contrabassoon contributes a profound bass without its equal!
Variations of genuinely breathtaking virtuosity that one would normally not think of entrusting to the bassoon alternate with cantabile parts in which the instrument is completely in its element.
