The career of the singular and idiosyncratic pianist Glenn Gould is probably best defined by his two recordings of Bach's Goldberg Variations. The first, his major-label debut recorded in 1955, was Gould's breakthrough. A brashly virtuosic performance, it blew the doors off the established notions of playing Bach and catapulted the pianist into superstardom. The second, recorded shortly before his death in 1982, finds a more deliberate Gould giving a poised, introspective reading of the work that brilliantly articulates its emotional intensity. A STATE OF WONDER offers these legendary recordings in remastered versions along with a third disc of outtakes from the 1955 sessions and Gould's carefully scripted final radio 'interview.' The side-by-side comparison afforded by this excellent package makes for a fascinating listening experience.

Aug 27, 2008 - I want to emphasize the recordings on piano of this work by Glenn Gould, on a set of discs entitled Glenn Gould: A State of Wonder. Glenn Gould ‎– A State Of Wonder • The Complete Goldberg Variations 1955 & 1981 Label: Sony Classical ‎– S3K 87703, Legacy ‎– S3K 87703.

The two versions are vastly different but both bear the unmistakable stamp of the iconoclastic pianist's characteristic clarity, precision, and dedication. Each could easily be considered a quintessential performance. The remastering is of particular value to the later recording, rescuing it from the unfavorable sound quality of primitive digital technology. This elegantly produced set is a fitting tribute to a remarkable and individualistic artist. It deserves a place on any music lover's shelf.

Released January 1956 ( 1956-01) Recorded June 10, 1955 ( 1955-06-10) – June 16, 1955 ( 1955-06-16) Length 38: 34 Bach: The Goldberg Variations is the 1955 debut album of Canadian classical pianist. An interpretation of ( 988), the work launched Gould's career as a renowned international pianist, and became one of the most well-known piano recordings. Sales were 'astonishing' for a classical album: it was reported to have sold 40,000 copies by 1960, and had sold more than 100,000 by the time of Gould's death in 1982. In 1981, a year before his death, Gould made a new recording of the Goldberg Variations, sales of which exceeded two million by 2000.

At the time of the first album's release, Bach's Goldberg Variations—a set of 30 beginning and ending with an —were outside the standard piano repertoire, having been recorded on the instrument only a few times before, either on small labels or unreleased. The work was considered esoteric and technically demanding, requiring awkward hand crossing at times when played on a piano (these passages would be played on two on a harpsichord). Gould's album both established the Goldberg Variations within the contemporary classical repertoire and made him an internationally famous pianist nearly 'overnight'. First played in concert by Gould in 1954, the composition was a staple of Gould's performances in the years following the recording. Contents • • • • • • • Recording process [ ] The recordings were made in 1955 at in over four days between June 10 and June 16, a few weeks after Gould signed his contract., the company's classical music division, released the album in January 1956. Bach: The Goldberg Variations became Columbia's bestselling classical album and earned Gould an international reputation. Download game samurai shodown 2 android. The record is now in the catalog of.

At least one record-company executive questioned Gould's choice of the then-obscure Goldberg Variations for his recorded debut. In a 1981 interview, Gould reflected on the studio's situation: 'I think the objections [Columbia] had, which were mild and expressed in a most friendly fashion, were quite logical. I was twenty-two years old and proposed doing my recording debut with the Goldberg Variations, which was supposed to be the private preserve, of, perhaps, or someone of that generation and stature. They thought that possibly some more modest undertaking was advisable.'