Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #199444 in Music
• Released on: 2007-09-03
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Dimensions: .20 pounds

Customer Reviews

Genius plays Beethoven...or Gould?
Let me start by saying I am a really big Glenn Gould fan. I listen to his Bach on a daily basis. His Bach is usually extremely convincing, despite some extreme tempi.

When Gould plays music other then Bach, there can be problems...and sometimes revelations. For example, some of his Beethoven-recordings are very satisfying, and I really love his Haydn sonatas (Haydn: Piano Sonatas, Hob. XVI, Nos. 42, 48-52) .

This recording of Beethoven late sonatas falls, in my opinion, in the category "problems". Gould totally ignores Beethoven's indications, his tempi are totally mad and his articulation is totally weird. Even this would not really be a problem if it all led to a convincing, albeit idiosyncratic, reading of these wonderful sonatas. But unfortunately this is not the case.

If you love Beethoven, I would not recommend this cd. If you're Glenn Gould fan, I would look elsewhere in his extensive catalogue for better versions of these sonatas.

Rare Reissue of Gould's Gold...
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[Digitally Remastered Limited Edition Issue of the Album Classic in a Deluxe, Miniaturized LP Sleeve Replica of the Original Vinyl Album Artwork. ]

Beethoven's last great three sonatas Opp. 109-11, recorded early in GG's career (1956).

I have Pollini; I have Kempff--(whom I usually prefer to anyone with Beethoven); still, Gould beats them all here in energy and brilliance.

Each hearing reveals new exquisitenesses in voicing, phrasing, accents.

TT:54mins.
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Stay away
If you are new to the Beethoven sonatas, you risk putting yourself off for life if you pick these renditions as your introduction.

Gould is much praised for his Bach pieces but he has not got the sensibility to play Beethoven (or perhaps he thinks, misguidedly, that he can improve on Beethoven). His main aim in performing Op 109 seems to be to reach the end in as short a time as possible. It is quite ludicrous the way in which he stumbles across the bars as if he is trying to set a new record for how fast someone can play this sonata.

Also, if you are not familiar with Gould, you are in for another surprise: he hums and groans and moans throughout the performance.

This is for Gould completists only - or for people who looks for confirmation of what they have always suspected: this pianist is overrated.