To celebrate the 200th birthday of Ludwig van Beethoven, Glenn Gould performed "The Bicentennial Concert“, produced by Mario Prizek and originally broadcast on 9th December, 1970. Part 1 Allegro
Glenn Gould was out of this world and his musical memory is a legend. In 1970, when Italian pianist, Arturo Benedetto Michelangeli, was unable to carry out his scheduled performance of Beethoven’s Concerto No.5, Emperor, in Toronto, Gould was given a telephone call the night before the concert, and asked if he could come in and play it the next morning, with the Toronto Symphony and the conductor, Karel Ančerl, as a substitute for Michelangeli. Gould’s answer was positive, and he rehearsed the Concerto, which he had not played since he recorded it with Leopoldo Stokowski and American Symphony Orchestra in 1966, overnight. The concert was recorded for TV as planned, and aired on December 9, 1970, and not on September 12, 1970, as originally mentioned. As can be seen and heard here, Gould and the orchestra played Beethoven’s Concerto flawlessly.
Can an average person understand this mastery? From the composer through the orchestra and the conductor to the soloist - his technique, memory and physical ability and endurance!
Damn flawless, I thought Gould was more of a Bach guy then Ludvig, but wow he played this most difficult piano concerto without error it seemed, wow. Glenn Gould may have been the greatest pianist who ever lived, I know this is hotly debated, but who else?
I have read several times that Glenn Gould was a genious, but now I know the reason. He is something really really extraordinary, something that connects the earth with heaven where God, Bach and Beethoven resides.
I'm sure Glenn Gould would be absolutely happy to use RU-vid and to communicate with us here. The ideal audience, no noise 🤩. I'm absolutely happy he stopped public performing and made soooo many brilliant records, for us. Yes, I'm happy.
He plays the intro arpeggios like no one else, imo....every note under each finger is struck so symmetrically, but the melody is never in doubt. This is why I love his Bach interpretations on piano, the cantus firmus is never in doubt, but you still hear every note! Genius!
Many, many great recordings of this iconic work. Yet, I still find myself coming back to this one. Gould always tried to search for the truth in music and this comes across in this recording.
Not only that, he frequently recorded pieces he’d never played....he’d memorize the score and have the piece in his head, complete, with his interpretation completely conceptualized. Not even my other favorite pianist, especially for Beethoven’s works, could do that....of course I’m talking about Vladimir Ashkenazy!
I think he was the only GC pianist who had that ability......... No sheets, all from memory. Wow! Ya, he mustba been the only one, still.................
It’s been fashionable to call Gould neurotic-even autistic-for decades, but I don’t ever find his _playing_ neurotic at all, and that’s the key point. He definitely had his quirks, but to seem to extend them to his performing is, I believe, unfair. His chair allowed him to produce the glorious sound, articulation, and clarity which is so important to his sound, and his conducting came from an overflow of emotion in order to emphasize a phrase. He makes me hear the Emperor in a wholly different way, and that’s a remarkable feat considering how often it’s played.
Each note is pronounced. The tempo is dynamic. It is original, unique and highly sophisticated. No one has replaced this talent. I am sure Beethoven would have loved this interpretation.
i absolutely love his cadence on the opening runs. so specifically evokes a visual motion of regal procession that characterizes this sequence. had never heard it performed like that. a living history of the intended tribute. love gould
never heard an opening of this piece like it.. i wanted to say something silly like amazing, but you said it better.. thanks 🙂 ..conducting his right hand with his left?
@@davidevans3227 The ultimate aim of performance is to bring the music alive. This is not a common result, but that phenomenon is what, it seems to me, we can see and hear unfolding in this recoding.
Interesting that the last performance was not a JS Bach’s work but one of Lv Beethoven, Anyway is a delight hearing this majestic LvB’s concerto played by Gould.
3 года назад
And no one mentions that Gould prepared in only one night Emperor's concert replacing Benedetti Michelangeli who was afraid not to able to play the Emperor's execution till the end of the concert.
@ I find it a ghastly and ridiculous thing to declare ABM to be "afraid". He was upset with the production, then left. Belittling a great artist like him places you in a very strange place indeed. Unless you're joking and I'm missing it.
3 года назад
@@barney6888 I'm very sorry but that's what happened to ABM about his refusing of playing Emperor in Toronto.
I love the way this concerto begins--no orchestral introduction, the soloist just jumps in with one of the most joyful musical expressions ever written. By the time the soloist gets done with the opening cadenzas, it seems like he has already played a complete recital. And then as a bonus, a whole concerto follows.
Actually the orchestra opens this concerto with a tutti chord on Eb, before the piano comes in. Beethoven's 4 th Concerto in G Major starts with the piano.
My late husband introduced me to this piece and we listened to it driving back from the Yorkshire coast through beautiful scenery.Ten years later I can bear to listen to it again.
This performance moves me to my core each time I listen/watch it. When Gould quit performing in public and chose the recording studio instead, it was a great loss to us all. Just witnessing his passion as he plays, his manual dexterity, conducting as he goes (humming along?) and this all from memory...this is genius and I wish we’d seen more of it!
Actually, his quitting performing was the reason why we have so much footage and recordings of him now. If he had spent all that time running around, touring and doing concerts, that would truly be a loss for future generations.
@@LuluBodhi while no one claims the touring and performance would be his only and all, instead of the in-between like it was when he was playing concerts, the studio allowed him to exert and train his creative force more greatly none the less. the writings, interviews, the refinement put into his skills in the studio as a result of his focus he put in the recording process are what have us enjoying him today. The past, today, and future would dearly miss him had he not retired the concerts
I cannot agree with you fully on Glen just recording in a studio. When in the studio recorded ,I used to enjoy his recordings, especially when you could hear him humming away to himself. I thought that showed his thought process and concentration. Made him more in our level and it seemed to bring the listener an intimacy you do not always get with a live performance.
Unique and remarkable focus, with total control from Glenn, as always. He is a symbol of pianistic charisma. He almost shadows the director and carries the entire orchestra away....pure excellence
Wow! What a glittering performance by Gould. Feel so blessed to be able hear and watch videos like these...almost like being there. Many thanks to the person who made this possible.
Absolutely. I watched this for the first time few says ago and after watching it, I learned about his life. How sad that he passed at only 50 yrs old. 😢 I wasn't even born yet when he performed this but it would have been incredible to experience it in person.
Wow, this performance is so unique. It is the perfect combination of precision and romance. Each touch of the note is clear but you won't feel bored. You can find a fine heart but a strong and deep emotion power in his expression.
Glen,s fingers are dancing n flowing in pianist tuts like a Atlantic waves; He is really experts n Beethoven himself had been a master in this gorgeous music.
What a rush with all the energy from Glenn Gould, conductor and orchestra. This was a glorious time in Toronto, Canada and cbc music. I wish we have the same devotion to classical music now. Grateful for this recording and performance.
Thanks for pointing this out. I have listened to the Emperor Concerto for decades now, and like to hold other versions up to the two recordings we have with Glenn Gould, this one and the studio recording with the American Symphony Orchestra under the lead of Leopold Stokowski, and I have never really noticed the timpani at the very end of the 3. mvt. They are quiet subtle, and one really has to listen up, catching them over the piano. I think it’s at the same time a great recognition by Beethoven to use the timpani here, but also a bit of a disfavor to the timpani that he doesn’t allow them to be louder, like he does in the Violin Concerto 😀
Glenn Gould was my favorite in respect of his interpretations of Bach's Goldberg variations. I didn't know that he was equally adept on Beethoven's music. Sadly he died early in his life.
Every concert pianist-I should say every professional classical instrumentalist-must have every major concerto memorized and learned to the point of mastery where they can polish one up and have it ready to play in a short interval.
