An introductory aria undergoes thirty singular transformations in Bach’s Goldberg Variations. Since its publication in 1741, the work has gained a reputation for presenting the performer with a monumental artistic challenge, requiring not only prodigious technical skill, but also the emotional sensitivity to interpret the delicate nuances of mood and demeanor that give each variation its distinct character. The Iranian-born harpsichordist Mahan Esfanahi is an ideal musician for the task, lauded by Gramophone Magazine for his “wonderfully personal performance” of this Baroque masterpiece.