The goldberg variations (1/5) (1955) complete by Glenn Gould

[Machaut100]

Thank you so much for uploading this version. It is the first Glenn's recording. After the first public concert in New York the next day an Executive of CBS, which was present there offered him to record his first disc. Glenn chose the Goldberg Variations. As soon it was on sale, it was a total impact and best seller. No one had heard something so sublime as this perform. All conductors world wide including Herbert von Karajan said. "Get me this pianist"

[mattbod]

Gould himself bitterly attacked this recording saying "there is a hell of a lot of piano playing there and I mean that in the worst possible sense." I much prefer his 1981 recording. He is still brilliant but he slows it down and plays with sensitivity and feeling.

[squeezeflo]

I too prefer the 1955 recording and am lucky enough to have it on vinyl. A friend in the music biz tells me they are getting ready to remaster/reissue some Gould. On vinyl ONLY. Sorry digiphiles.

[GiusBosc]

fantastic Gould; not true Bach, but Bach on Gould-Version. Another planet

[EMPERORMIKI]

@GiusBosc I suppose you can explain what you mean by "true Bach".

[kokomo40]

I love his touch.

[paradoxicus]

Y la musica se hizo.Acaso, Gould estuviera ya prefijado, para ejecutar con sus dedos,la belleza que Bach dejo esculpida,mas alla de la gravedad y el tiempo.

La idea del Hacedor cabe en estos seres; menos magicos que parte integrante de la idea de divinidad..

[rosariocuma]

Insuperable

[WhitePage3]

Personally i find Gould's raw and unbridled talent cannot contain itself in his 55' rendition of Bach's Goldberg variations. i thoroughly enjoy his passionate and aggressive approach to the to the music in this version, however he corrected his, as some would criticize, overpowering 55' recordings in his 81' re-recording of the variations. Gould himself rarely, if ever, re-recorded his work, however in his later years he felt his previous attempt untrue to the spirit of Bach's masterpiece.

[Jarnagua]

Untrue? or had he grown and changed as an artist? Does there need to be only one accepted interpretation of a masterpiece? Isn't a masterpiece something that rings true to all who experience it? 55 was true to Gould the young man.  81 was true to Gould in the twilight of his life. We change everyday, and an artist should only express who he is now, not pretend to ape the sentiments of his youth. This is the essence of what GG stood for. But I agree, the 81's are my preference.

[Steinbach1984]

I heartily disagree with this performance, but I heartily agree with his approach! Today, the composer is sacred and the performing artist is not supposed to put his stamp on the work. Gould at least dared to play Bach the way he heard it, and his performance is the perfect counterweight to Ralph Kirkpatrick's boastings of "authenticity".

[Canucks4ever]

from 4:52 is unreal speed....

[juanmanuelcarotorres]

escuchen la varias veces, siempre hay algo nuevo...

[wonderlasting]

Glenn Gould is perfection, Bach and either in G Major or g minor. Glenn Gould, G Major the letter G, coincidence? I think not.

[Ravel87]

this... speed... it is, not human!!!!!!

[lucasbittini]

La mejor interpretación. Estoy deacuerdo.

[TheGloue]

La meilleur des interprétations des variations goldberg !! Merci Glenn de nous remplir le coeur de joie et de désespoir pour ce fait incontournable dans le vie de chacun.

Gloue

[Laurentpiano9]

Thanks for the upload !

[contengaletras]

...muchas gracias!!!

[rickmcarthur77]

oh my god. i love it slower but this is amazing. mindblowing.

[Borisbakker]

@rickmcarthur77 It depends on my mood!