Glenn Gould - Beethoven, Sonata No. 30 Op. 109 - III

[GA4N]

listen carefully in the fugue , at 4:26 , never heard such a rocket ......!!!!

[Brewdish]

there's never any doubt when listening to Glenn Gould that you're listening to Glenn Gould. The most unique version of this I've ever heard. Amazing how 30 years after his death he still manages to inspire controversy and vitriol, I think he'd enjoy that.

[Perelea]

hands down he was a great genius. I do find many remarkable moments in this playing. However I can't digest some of the tempos and the broken structure (repetitions?). It's interesting, has a deepness of its own kind and it is truly original. It's the sort of interpretation that I come to when I need some inspiration (I am studying this sonata too). But other then that I just can't listen to it too much. If I had to pick 1 recording of this sonata, this wouldn't be the one =]]

[pianism1]

Gould will be Gould... Interesting it is, of course. But beautiful? No. And that's what it should be, eternaly beautiful. It's not 'innig' at all, and way too fast for my taste. But still, very new and fresh, and amazing how unique he still is.

[Sylvain894]

I think that Mr Gould was, at the same time, avant-gardist and pretty good phrasing to reach old masters performances and to make a trip in time. Timeless !

[Rugghead98]

Gould was full of himself, and had a severe case of Oppositional/Defiant Disorder. If a piece was marked 'Largo' he would play it Presto, and vice-versa. Had a fabulous technique, and the stability of Bobby Fischer. Some of his work was outstanding, much of it was junk.

[yumpin]

@Rugghead98 when did he play presto instead of largo? Are you looking at the music right now? I have looked over many of his differing tempos and a lot of the time he is way more accurate. Even when his tempo is differing from the written score, he is more rhythmically accurate than most pianists regardless of whether or not he plays in the correct tempo. Not to mention his voicing is insanely clear

[wnxg4nd4lf]

@Rugghead98 you simply have no idea what you're talking about.

[Adamalgorithm]

I like Barenboim's version much better

[vinciano]

Iv'e always been a Gould adept. Now i try to sum my history with Beethoven op. 109: I always consider this work an opus magnum, expecially when played by pianist like C. Arrau. After many hearings I start to get bored (? what a wrong term...) with Arrau interpretations an my consideration of this masterwork slightly change. After listening to Gould rendition I understand how this work should be played in an objective way.

[vinciano]

Iv'e always been a Gould adept. Now i try to sum my history with Beethoven op. 109: I always consider this work an opus magnum, expecially when played by pianist like C. Arrau. After many hearings I start to get bored (? what a wrong term...) with Arrau interpretations an my consideration of this masterwork slightly change. After listening to Gould rendition I understand how this work should be played in an objective way.

[Bentland]

por que esse cara não pára de girar o corpo e toca direito a peça - um pianista tão fantástico desse...não precisava ficar dando uma de diferente..

[1127jim]

He ignores the repeats. The theme has internal repeats and he ignores them. Some of the variations are double variations which means the repeated statement of the varied theme is different then the first statement in a particular variation. So in those cases he is forced to play the repeat. This messes with the architecture of the movement.

Gould's recording was my first encounter with the last 3 sonatas and I enjoyed it until I found others. Gould reportedly did not care for Beethoven.

[predoje]

wooowowoo wheres he going...slow down ... He is great artist but with this composition he made caricature...

[petezilla]

Even though this is Beethoven's little "Goldberg Variations," Geiseking's reading spoils this version for me.

[rhapsodyinblue18]

why did we hide behind the pillar at the end? :-P

[gilbarony]

Best interpretation ever

[ruanpingshan]

Gould is a fantastic interpreter of Baroque music, but I think he's a little out of his depth here.

[BachBachBachBachBach]

Gould has a musical depth you will never begin to understand.

[Timrath]

@BachBachBachBachBach Don't be so quick to declare what others are able to understand and what they aren't. Simply because he disagrees with you, no matter how important you think your position is, doesn't make him an imbecile or any less musically understanding. That's sheer arrogance on your part.

That said, there are many people who are not very much fond of Gould, and they raise very valid critisisms that should not be dismissed simply by attacking those who voice them.

[lourak]

@BachBachBachBachBach Would you please explain Gould's musical depth to me? - briefly, of course.

[mackbox123]

@BachBachBachBachBach why?

[MasterAzunai]

Brilliant, I new Glenn would come through in this fabulous movement! one thousand stars!!!!

[8888sam]

compairing gould to that blowhard barenboim is like compering beethoven to jimmy buffet...

[AlmaSchiwago]

Don't be so stupid!

Barenboim is highly intelligent. YOu can't compare Barenboim to Gould because they are completely different, their personalities, their approach, their mind-set, their technique...Both are extraordinary and unique in their own terms! Your way of thinking is very unprofessional!

[8888sam]

if someone is unprofessional its Barenboim you said it urself: Barenboim approach to music is like a soap opera actress with a over the top

preformance personalities? gould wanted to keep music an art form while Barenboims playing is grotesque trying to get a reaction from the croud

technique? when gould plays it sounds like 3 people playing at once--Barenboim just bangs on the keysBarenboims "mindset" redusess music from art to entertainment if you want to compare him with madona go ahead

[AlmaSchiwago]

You are polemic and untaught (your English proofs that!^^)! I don't want to argue with you any longer! You will not understand it.

You must abandon your prejudices!

[taviona]

Get off my lawn, internet troll.

[ipmoic]

Whoever the engineer was for this video should have been shot. Wish I could lower the treble! The tone is tinny, thin and the piano seems badly regulated. Clearly--interpretively Gould still comes through in his unique manner, but this is a miserable job of sound engineering.

[oyrish]

It is possible that Gould himself had something to do with the tone. He said that lower frequencies offended his ears! He did have a unique musical aesthetic anyway...

[egitto78]

listen arrau playing this sonata.

[wnxg4nd4lf]

Beethoven is a titan of music. His music is divine and so is Gould's interpretation. I love every single note.

[veilsidebr]

too quick interpretation, i didn't like it...barenboim yes, does that perfectly!!

[welltemperedpianist]

<3 Gould

[anelacadillo]

this music simply gets to your heart...

[Trixton]

I like this better than his renditions of the 1st and 2nd movements. He has a very strict, regimented style, and it works well with this movement.

[Rayek145]

You are missed more than you ever knew.

Liban.

[kaiserkill]

thanks!

[dizzib]

A stunning rendition from the master of Beethoven. Thanks for posting!