• Mahan Esfahani
  • Mahan Esfahani
  • Mahan Esfahani
Cal Performances at Home: Spring Season. Original, full-length performances streamed direct to your home screen.
Early Music

Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord

J.S. BACH
Goldberg Variations, BWV 988

In the polarized world of classical music, where battles often rage over issues of interpretation and authenticity, Mahan Esfahani is the rare harpsichordist known for mesmerizing performances of both early music and contemporary repertoire. The acclaimed Persian American musician is an unapologetic champion of the harpsichord, devoted to restoring the Baroque mainstay to what he sees as its rightful place at the center of concert music. Esfahani has been praised for his crisp articulation and a thrillingly dynamic style on an instrument that famously resists extremes.

This Cal Performances at Home recital, featuring Bach’s beloved Goldberg Variations, will be filmed at the Bach Archive in Leipzig, Germany, the city in which the composer wrote this timeless music nearly 280 years ago. Today, the piece is most-often heard on piano but it was originally composed for Esfahani’s instrument: “[He] feels like the harpsichord’s answer to the young Gould—exuberant, antisentimental, bracing” (The New Yorker).

The Cal Performances at Home Spring 2021 season is dedicated to Gail and Dan Rubinfeld, leading supporters of Cal Performances and the well-being of our artists for almost 30 years.

Patron Sponsor: Anonymous

Premiere Watch Party

Mar 4, 2021, 7pm
Add to Calendar 03/04/2021 07:00 pm 03/04/2021 08:30 pm America/Los_Angeles Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord https://calperformances.org/events/2020-21/at-home-spring/mahan-esfahani-harpsichord/
Video no longer available.

Cal Performances at Home Pricing

The pricing for individual Cal Performances at Home performances is on the honor system and is based on the number of people watching the performance.

Going
Solo

$15
  • One person viewing the performance

Date
Night

$30
  • Two people viewing the performance

Social
Bubble

$60
  • Four or more people viewing the performance

Rock
Star

$68
  • Average price you would have paid to see this live*

* “Rock Star” is, well, above and beyond! You’re a true believer, a superhero in our book.

Video

Beyond the Stage

Mahan Esfahani and Michael Maul in Conversation
Read More

Program Notes

View Program Notes: Web | PDF

Mar 4, 2021, 7pm
Add to Calendar 03/04/2021 07:00 pm 03/04/2021 08:30 pm America/Los_Angeles Mahan Esfahani, harpsichord https://calperformances.org/events/2020-21/at-home-spring/mahan-esfahani-harpsichord/
Video no longer available.

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