Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		5.0
Video		4.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		0.5
Overall		4.5

Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie Review

Not just a release of "firsts," 'Goldberg Variations Acoustica' is a must-own release for its impeccable quality.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 30, 2010

I'll be Bach.

Maybe that's what the incredibly gifted musicians who form the AIX Records All-Star Band thought when they sat down and created one of the most breathtaking musical performances in some time. Goldberg Variations Acoustica is the third in AIX Records' Acoustica series (following Moonlight Acoustica and Pachelbel Canon Acoustica), and it's the first to make it onto Blu-ray 3D. As AIX Records' website proclaims, Goldberg Variations Acoustica is "the world's first 3D Music Album, the first Blu-ray 3D disc with Dolby TrueHD, the first Blu-Ray 3D disc with multiple mixes and only the second Blu-ray 3D disc to be commercially available." They're quite proud of this release, and rightfully so. This is a first-rate production that features 53 of the most soothing and delightful minutes available on Blu-ray disc; the music's incredible, the performers are exemplary, the soundtracks are in a class of their own, and the fantastic 3D presentation is really just icing on an already very scrumptious cake. It doesn't take a Bach fan, a music fan, an audiophile, a Blu-ray fan, or a 3D aficionado to see and hear -- not to mention enjoy -- the excellence of both the performances and this disc's technical prowess.

Ready to play.

Performing the Goldberg Variations -- Bach-Werke-Verzeichnis 988, an aria of 30 variations for harpsichord, composed by the legendary Johann Sebastian Bach and so named for Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, the man first believed to have performed this set -- is Jim Cox on the piano, organ, and Wurlitzer Electric Piano; Dean Parks on the electric guitar; Laurence Juber on the acoustic guitar; Alberto Lopez on percussion; Kevin Axt on the acoustic bass; and MB Gordy on drums. What makes Goldberg Variations Acoustica a dream Music release? Perhaps the better questions would be, "what keeps it from being a dream Music release?" The answer to that question is "nothing." A loving, sometimes melodic, sometimes toe-tapping, and sometimes get-up-and-dance cacophony of sound, Goldberg Variations Acoustica is a series of 14 variations along with aria and quodlibet. A selection that's as relaxing as it is energetic, as soothing as it is spirited, "variations" nicely defines the performance both musically and contextually. The differing tempos brings a vitality to the music in its several variances, the result a performance that's not just "something for everyone" but "everything for all;" admirers of any style of music, whether Bach or Bruce Springsteen, will find in Goldberg Variations Acoustica one of the most enchanting, honest, and heartfelt performances in some time.

Aside from its roots as one of Bach's finest works, this performance excels thanks to the obvious love for craft, music, and form that's on display from each musician. Whether those moments when Kevin Axt completely loses himself in the music or the smooth energy Alberto Lopez brings to the percussion elements, the AIX Records All-Stars play the Goldberg Variations with a heart and sincerity rarely seen and heard in popular professional music. With the unparalleled talent, camaraderie, and harmony on display, one would think that this grouping had been working together on this performance for some time. Wrong. What's truly striking is that this is an unrehearsed performance. The included notes, penned by Mark Waldrep, Ph.D. in Music Composition, state "[t]he track you hear on this 3D Music Album was recorded as a single take done without a run through or any rehearsal." Wow. If that, and the resultant music that's cleaner, more precise, and perhaps most importantly, more entertaining than most commercial music, isn't a testament to just how good this session, the musicians, and Bach's work truly is, then nothing -- other than a listen -- will be enough to convince even the most skeptic of readers. AIX Records' Goldberg Variations Acoustica is a marvel of sound and musical talent. And, yes, it's in 3D, too.

The first commercially-available Blu-ray 3D title that's not of the animated variety and only the second Blu-ray 3D title available for purchase without the added hassle of buying one (or another) 3D television, Goldberg Variations Acoustica is a must-buy for 3D HDTV owners, not only for the novelty and availability -- both of those are nice but aren't enough for the casual high definition 3D owner to lay down money for a title -- but for the quality of the release. Yes, this is first and foremost a music title, but the 3D element only makes it better. One listen reveals a positively triumphant work of audio reproduction -- Goldberg Variations Acoustica was recorded as "pure music made without the usual studio tricks and processing that diminish the fidelity of most commercial releases" -- but the inclusion of a 3D performance solidifies the presentation as one that unmistakably places the listener/viewer into the recording studio as the session's one and only attendee. There are no distracting audience members to contend with; this is as real as it gets in 2010, with not only the unparalleled sound presentation but the stunning and, mostly, seamless 3D presentation. There's nothing -- nothing -- out there like Goldberg Variations Acoustica in terms of combining excellent music, great performances, stunning visuals, and unmatched audio in one complete package.

Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Goldberg Variations Acoustica's 3D Blu-ray release sports a visually impressive 720p high definition 3D experience. Don't let the 720p listing be a deal-breaker; this release looks fabulous across the board, both around its detailing and colors and its 3D presentation. As for the basics first, Goldberg Variations Acoustica simply doesn't have much to offer from a visual perspective; as one might discern from the assortment of screenshots, the program is assembled from images of relatively static musicians from an assortment of angles and distances. The 720p presentation captures plenty of fine detail -- particularly in the instruments -- and soaks up the various colors nicely. Viewers will note the glossy smooth finishes on the instruments, minor scuffs on their wooden accents, the texture of cymbals, the stitches of clothing, and other various niceties scattered about the frame. Colors are solid, too, even if the image is absent much in the way of vibrant hues. The light wooden floor, the warm cherry finish seen on Kevin Axt's bass, and the various clothing all sport steady, handsome colorization. The image fades into a black background where eagle-eyed viewers may note some blocking, but the image is generally free of other distracting anomalies, such as aliasing or banding. Flesh tones appear accurate throughout the program.

Goldberg Variations Acoustica's 3D elements are handled wonderfully, too. It's the first live-action title to be released on 3D Blu-ray -- stateside, anyway -- and for those that have seen some of the musical performances on DirecTV's 3D channel, the difference in quality between those and Goldberg, even at 720p, will be immediately noticeable. The image does a fine job of absorbing the viewer into the music and makes for a satisfying accompaniment to the stellar sound presentation (see below). There are, thankfully, no gimmicky elements in the program; it's comprised of a fairly routine series of shots but with the added bonus of a third dimension. The 3D material looks fantastic, with minimal "ghosting" or double images evident, and only in one shot did the ghosting prove noticeable enough to draw attention away from the visuals and sound. The sense of depth is very strong; viewers will often feel like an involved observer seated inside the room and with the ability to accurately gauge the spacing between elements, whether a drum cluster or even a piece of paper hanging off a sheet music stand. The limited elements in-frame lessen the visual impact and things do get somewhat routine as compared to the ever-evolving and graphically-complex computer animated films that have already appeared on 3D Blu-ray, but that doesn't lessen the quality of the presentation. This one is nicely reflective of a natural, easy-on-the-eyes, basic 3D presentation. The image is gorgeous from every angle; it's stable, sharp, and accurate. The lack of heavy ghosting and the smoothness of the presentation are the hallmark elements, and Goldberg Variations Acoustica makes for a fine first live-action 3D Blu-ray title.

Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Goldberg Variations Acoustica features three audio tracks, Dolby TrueHD 5.1 "Stage" and "Audience" mixes as well as a PCM 2.0 presentation. The "Stage" mix plays with a bit more immersion than does the "Audience" mix, providing a slightly fuller, more all-encompassing sound. There's a slightly more pronounced rear-channel presence as well. The PCM track, of course, delivers music only across the front; there's no surround output, and while listeners may not find in the PCM track the same level of oomph and immersion, it's no less clear, precise, and invigorating. Generally, all three tracks are exceptionally strong and each is well worth a listen through the program if only to experience the music from three different perspectives. Listeners will become lost in any of the three presentations; although the 3D visuals are a key component to the experience, the soundtracks are of such a high quality that listeners are encouraged to darken the room, close their eyes, absorb the sound output, and transport themselves to another dimension of reality on the waves of the soulful, soothing, and honest music. AIX Records has encoded the disc so that users may listen without the video output; the "red" button selects the 5.1 "Stage" mix, the "blue" button selects the 5.1 "Audience" mix, and the "yellow" button selects the PMC 2.0 track. Best of all, though, is the quality of the listen across all three presentations, none of which sacrifices fidelity, clarity, vigor, or precision across the entire dynamic range, whether during the performance's softest moments or the electrifying all-out jam sessions that deliver an incredible array of sound at high volume and unmatched precision. Goldberg Variations Acoustica truly delivers one of the finest listens available on Blu-ray; even viewers without 3D capabilities are encouraged to pick this disc up for its soundtracks alone, and the disc contains a 2D version for playback in non-3D players, including the Playstation 3.

Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Aside from a brief introduction listed under "3D Music Album" in the main menu and a "channel identification" tab that ensures listeners have their sound systems properly connected, there are no extras on the Goldberg Variations Acoustica disc. However, a booklet featuring musician bios, notes on the release, credits, and information on other AIX Records releases and this title in particular is included in the Blu-ray case.

Goldberg Variations Acoustica 3D Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Goldberg Variations Acoustica is an excellent first foray into the soon-to-burgeon world of 3D music titles on Blu-ray. With the rich history of Bach's work behind them, the musical grouping of Jim Cox, Dean Parks, Laurence Juber, Alberto Lopez, Kevin Axt, and MB Gordy has created a remarkably rich listen that's sure to please music lovers of all styles and captivate even the hardest-to-please of fans. Not content to settle for plopping this remarkable feat of music onto a disc and calling it a release, AIX Records has delivered a remarkably clean, precise, and proper series of lossless and uncompressed multi-channel soundtracks that deliver every note with precision and, with that, all of the music's integrity and the heart, soul, and honesty of the performers. The 3D visuals only further enhance the experience, and combined with the amazing surround sound presentation, listeners will find themselves completely immersed into this marvelous experience of sight and sound. Not only for its noteworthiness as one of the first BD 3D titles on the market but also for the content and presentation found on the disc, Goldberg Variations Acoustica earns my highest recommendation.

To purchase, please visit AixRecords.com.