Curated by Alex Fortes & Sarah Darling

Musical Program:

Johannes Sebastian Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 arr. for Piano and String Orchestra by Simone Dinnerstein, Alex Fortes and Sarah Darling

A Far Cry and Simone Dinnerstein present a modern reimagining of Goldberg Variations, expanding Bach’s iconic keyboard masterpiece— in revelatory, unexpected ways—into a living dialogue for piano and string orchestra. 

Created by Criers Alex Fortes and Sarah Darling with Dinnerstein, this arrangement draws out the hidden possibilities within each variation: a hint of trio sonata here, a French overture there, even a jazz-inflected bass line or a playful quodlibet.  Solo piano and strings continually trade, mirror, and transform one another, revealing new colors, textures, and moments of surprise while remaining rooted in the brilliance of Bach’s original. 

*Did you know? This arrangement was first developed by A Far Cry and Dinnerstein in 2016 and premiered in 2019 to critical acclaim. It makes full use of Bach’s written repeats–meaning almost nothing is heard the same way twice. Along the way, you might encounter unexpected moments: an intimate bass-and-piano duet, the orchestra singing, or the pianist reaching inside the instrument to pluck its strings.

Following this performance, A Far Cry and Dinnerstein will record the work at Mechanics Hall in Worcester for a forthcoming album release.

Early Bird Subscription pricing through July 21st, 2026. Single tickets go on sale August 12.