Goldberg Variations by J.S. Bach for two lutes

THE GOLDBERG VARIATIONS (BWV 988) by J.S. BACH

arranged for two baroque lutes by Thomas Langlois

The Goldberg Variations by J. S. Bach, one of the most extraordinary and demanding masterpieces of the early music repertoire, can now be heard in a unique new version, performed for the first time on two lutes. Originally conceived for harpsichord, this perfect architecture of sound is reimagined through the contrasting light and shadow of baroque lutes. Their rich timbral palette, expressive dynamics, and subtle phrasing transform the work into an intimate, vivid, and moving musical experience. 

Info & booking: thomaslanglois1999@gmail.com: +32 4 79 12 91 58

PETER CROTON is an award-winning lutenist and romantic guitarist, acclaimed for his performances and recordings as both a soloist and accompanist. Based in Switzerland, for many decades he taught lute, romantic guitar, and basso continuo at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, and also lute, historical performance practice, and guitar continuo at the Conservatories of Basel and Bern. 

Praised in the press as a “lyric poet of the lute” with “breath-taking virtuosity” and an “astonishing range of tone colours and dynamics,” Croton is renowned for his expressive interpretations and refined musicianship. His compositions for voice and lute have been described as “challenging and refined... highly suited for inclusion in today’s concert repertoire.” 

In 1984, he won first prize at the Erwin Bodky Competition for Early Music in Cambridge, USA. He has recorded numerous CDs, appeared on television and radio as both a soloist and chamber musician, and performed at leading international festivals. His most recent concert season included solo recitals in Austria, Australia, China, England, Germany, Switzerland, and Sicily, alongside numerous performances with duo partners. 

A prolific author, he has written method books for Renaissance and Baroque lute, two books on historical performance practice for lutenists and guitarists, and a thoroughbass method for guitar.

THOMAS LANGLOIS is a Belgian lute player. He studied the renaissance lute and the theorbo at the Royal Conservatory in Ghent with Wim Maeseele. From 2022 until 2024 he continued his studies at the Schola Cantorum Baseliensis in Switzerland. There he studied the baroque lute with Peter Croton, and basso continuo with Julian Behr. At the end of his studies, he was awarded the “Walter und Corina Christen-Marchal-Stiftung” price, for the best master recital of that year. 

Thomas plays in many professional ensembles and orchestras, such as the Brussels Philharmonic, Opera Ballet Flanders, Bach+, Il Gardellino, Les Goûts Authentiques, Utopia, Ex Tempore, Ensemble Delta and others. He is a founding member of duo Coordonné and the broken consort “Fleet Street Revival”. 

As a soloist, Thomas played many recitals at home and abroad. He was awarded second prize at the International Lute Competition of the German Lute Society in Weimar, 2025. He played for the “English Lute Society” in London, and for the “German Lute Society”. In 2022, he was selected as one of the ten most promising young musicians in Belgium by the national radio station. He teaches lute and historically informed performance practice at the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, and at the Conservatoire Royal de Bruxelles.