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

Variations 1-11

• Category

  Music

[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.

[rickmcarthur77]

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

[elizabethbennettgirl]

i love the speed :)))

[Irene Wrench]

I have both recordings - and some played by other pianists. I'd choose the 81 recording for my desert island but still love to listen to the 55. Like the rest of Bach, it consoles and refocuses the mind like nothing else.

[Camilla Zwilling]

The Goldberg Variations are the most complexly organized and shrewdly integrated contrapuntal variations ever written and Glenn Gould´s finest keyboard achievements. Both recordings ( 1955 and 1981 ) are superb. If you want youthful abandon, spontaneity and a miraculous technique, listen to first recording. If you prefer stateliness, mathematical precision, the reflective wisdom of middle age, and the clarity of digital sound listen to the second. They both are Glenn Gould´s signature work.

[SarahOstrin1]

I love both interpretations, each from the perspective of Glenn at a certain age, maturity and understanding.

[ClassicMusic95]

glenn from 1981 disliked

[Nicholas Lewis]

It sounds like you've read the Gould biography by Peter Ostwald's biography of Gould!

[figurefigure]

I totally agree.....but that's what she said ;)