Bach’s Goldberg Variations are regarded as one of the pinnacles of the solo keyboard repertoire.

This first solo piano recording by distinguished choral director, composer, pianist. and organist, Sarah MacDonald is the product of the Covid pandemic motivating her to learn, perform and record this major work.

It is accompanied by her written notes on each variation in the form of diarised entries, following her personal journey through the musical, medical, professional, and social challenges that occurred over time, as the lives of us all adapted in response to Covid 19. The entries are personal, self-effacing, and include a healthy dose of humour, illustrated with examples of her talent as a keen amateur photographer.

Sarah MacDonald – recording in Ely Cathedral on the Cathedral’s own fine recent Steinway – explores the unique character of each variation, showcasing their musical depth, melodic beauty, harmonic originality, and contrapuntal ingenuity. The Cathedral’s luminous and radiant acoustic adds another dimension not usually found in recordings on the piano.

Sarah MacDonald is a Canadian-born conductor, organist, pianist, and composer, living in the UK, and holds the positions of Fellow and Director of Music at Selwyn College, Cambridge, and Director of Ely Cathedral’s Girl Choristers.

MacDonald came to the UK from Canada in 1992 as Organ Scholar of Robinson College, Cambridge after studying piano, organ, and conducting at The Royal Conservatory of Music’s Glenn Gould School in Toronto with Leon Fleisher, Marek Jablonski, and John Tuttle. At Cambridge she read for a degree in Music, and studied the organ with David Sanger. Sarah has played numerous recitals and conducted choirs throughout the UK, North America, the Middle East, New Zealand, and much of mainland Europe. She has made over 35 recordings, variously in the guises of pianist, organist, conductor, and producer.

She was recently appointed University Organist at Cambridge, and is the first woman to hold that prestigious ceremonial role, which dates back to 1670. She took up the role of President of the Royal College of Organists in 2024.