American pianist and conductor Murray Perahia has been performing on the concert stage for over 40 years and has become one of the most sought-after and cherished pianists of our time. Known as the leading interpreter of Bach, Handel, Scarlatti, Mozart, Beethoven and Schumann, Perahia has won numerous awards, including three Grammy Awards and 9 Gramophone Awards.In 2000 he released his recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations, a 75-minute work which features colorful and emotionally differentiated pieces which have been described as some of the most challenging experiences a pianist can face. This musical composition was originally created by Johann Sebastian Bach and consists of an aria and a set of 30 variations. First published in 1741, it is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may also have been the first performer of the work.