Glenn Gould - Beethoven, Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major op. 110 (OFFICIAL) 

I remember there was a comment saying if the fugue from hammerklavier sonata was a celebration of the piano as an instrument, this fugue is celebration of life.

To me, Glenn Gould is one of the greatest pianists who ever lived.

Vocabulary is as stunning as the music

I am 72 yrs. old, a classical music lover since music appreciation class in high school, and even had a couple 33 1/3 albums of Gould performing Bach but NEVER loved him as I do today after watching countless utube videos of his performances in the late 50’s and 60’s. You miss something when you don’t actually see him performing the music. I can’t get enough and am afraid no one has come along since to replace him... I am also huge Beethoven lover and putting these two geniuses together is “heaven” on earth to me!

Every time I hear the initial part of this sonata, I have to stop whatever I do, and reflect, as if I had a sudden consciousness I had reached the edge of my life.

The more I watch and hear the pianists of today, the more I appreciate Glenn Gould.

Seems like he, Glenn, was an exquisite RU-vidr in advance. He worked for us, his future viewers. Double gratitude to you, maestro.

Can you imagine a TV programme like this in our times? I wonder though how many viewers a programme like this would have had back then...

Gould gave only two concerts in 1964, one in Chicago on March 29, the other in Los Angeles on April 10. Both recitals opened with four parts of Bach's Art of the Fugue and featured two Sonatas from 20th century composers: Krenek's Third in Chicago and Hindemith's Third in L.A. And the main work on both occasions was Beethoven's Sonata No.31. Nobody knew then that it was to be Glenn Gould's very last public performances. Another tidbit of information: Gould's recording of Beethoven's last three Sonatas was done before the coming of stereo. Gould was planning to record all 32 Sonatas and Columbia would have liked him to re-record those three Sonatas. Gould refused. He had been very annoyed at the critics who almost unanimously pounced on the subject. The New York Times was very harsh, calling "...the performances immature and inexplicable". Gould never easily admitted mistakes and he said to some of his closest friends that "...since so many critics have taken exception to my conception of late Beethoven I cannot claim that it is the most convincing recording that I have made. However, I do feel that, if only as a personal manifesto, it is the most convinced". Simply put, case closed.

I've listened to hundreds of pianists play this sonata. I feel Gould's is the most successful rendition of the fugue and ending.

Какое счастье, что у нас есть эти видео! Послушать комментарии Гленна, а потом смотреть, как он творит Музыку - тонкий драматический спектакль, и мы участники таинства.. Гленн Гульд, ты прекрасен!

Mesmerized by Gould.

Best Version of this Sonata that exists.

When the fugues of late Beethoven met one of the greatest interpreters of Bach ... WOW. It is like the world has opened up a new realm -- thanks for this upload!

I love you, Gould.

Genius pianist and brilliant speaker, spellbinding.

3:12 Beautiful hands 5:49 Beautiful singing 8:00 Beautiful smile 8:47 Possessed arm movement. I love you, Glenn.

this video is pure gold

Spectacular! The Eye of God is audible and visible (!) in the final portion of this fugue. Glenn had it all. The most highly-evolved pianist of our time. Another reason to love Canada!

In 2 days, it will be 38th anniversary of his untimely departure. How I wish I could have seen & heard him in person! This performance is refreshingly subjective/personal, deeply spiritual & absolutely compelling. Thank you for posting!

We have by his recordings only a small piece of the capacity of his brilliant music mind and we are thankful for this.....

14:07-14:20 who else could ever play like that? They all play that part just accent+accent+accent and bigger+bigger+bigger. Only gould played that part both musically and romantically touching our hearts like a crystal jelly.

7:55 to 8:11 always brings a smile to my face. Gould has such an inspiring soul.

it's a delight and privilege to listen to Mr Gould perform. It is an equally unique privilege to listen to him speak.

It's a story that shows just how great Beethoven is.‼

I'm astonished by Glenn's articulateness. You'd think he'd memorized his lines or was reading from a teleprompter in his intro to the piece, but no, it's completely off the cuff. Unbelievable, especially by today's standards. How far we've fallen.

This man's explanations expand my musical consciousness and enrich my understanding. Thanks for posting.

Возвращаюсь к этой записи снова и снова, и нахожу новые для себя прекрасные моменты. Этот старомодный и как будто расстроенный рояль звучит божественно, и как будто временами плачет слезами чистой, печальной музыки. Это изумительно, неповторимо.. Это Искусство фуги Бетховена. Благодарю тебя, Гленнушка! ❤

Yes! You are right: Gould WAS a musical giant. Music was his language. Furthermore, l heard that Gould could speak on two telephones at the same time.

Great and historic vid..inimitable GG for all to enjoy and learn from.

This sonata is a mixture of joy and pain.abyss and elevation.mysteric gould who perfectly represent this contradiction

I can listen to Glenn Gould talk and play through the entire Ring Cycle and I would not be bored for a second

I love this recording, the way he humanizes it with his distinctive humming during the introduction. Thank you Mr Gould for allowing me listen to such wonderful piano playing!

Nobody but Glenn Gould! All musician deep lovers know. Read read read and practice. About to leave for Toronto.

Gould, the best performance of several pieces.

Qué grande es este hombre. Por qué no hay gente así hoy en día dominando el discurso de nuestros media?

A genius. When you begin to listen to this over-slow beginning, you're like:" what a f...he is doing'?! Gonna switch this off now!''. But something keeps you from switching it off and after couple of minutes:'' well, ok...it may be acceptable". In the end you are completely convinced by him as always))

Un sommet de l'art cette musique avec cette sublime interprétation d'un pianiste exceptionnel !!!

Of all of Glenn Gould's recordings, this is the one that brings me the most joy.

I've listened to Gould's other versions and this is my favourite one

He hypnotizes my heart

Great performance.

god is here amongst us

His speech is always so intense essential and evocative like his playing

Thank public broadcasting for these priceless clips.

ДУША СТРАДАДАЕТ,СЕРДЦЕ ГЕНИЯ,БОЖЕСТВЕННЫЙ СЛУХ!!!

I'm a musician, Bass, Guitar, Drums but my biggest regret is not learning the piano. What a thrill it must be to sit down and out of nowhere it seems you can produce magical sounds. If I could play like him I think I would live in my piano. By far my favorite player and I love you tube for this kind of thing above all else. Greatness.

The best video of youtube

Beethovenの生きた心臓を、目の前に見せられたような名演奏。

14:07 His LH is unbelievably eloquent in this part.

Sad melody but extremely deep.

I don't where I was, neither do I know for how long. All I know is that Mr Gould started to play the last movement of the OP. 110

Incomparable magnificence!

Gravity and solemnity.but with hope.the real beethoven and the spiritual glenn

Pure artistic bliss!

Gould's 1960's recording introduced me to the last three sonatas, and I still judge other performances by comparison to him. . . and try to emulate him in my own playing!

ABSOUTELY WONDERFUL - SUBLIME music-making! 🎼🎵🎶

Glorious sonata.so courageous so transcendental

Glen is like one with the music.

You see the feel is different. Took me some time to realize. When you are the player there are no cuts, so probably you want to bring the listener to that level.

Grandioso!

Immenso. Pura musica eseguita

Non ho parole!

6:06

the most under appreciated musical genius of our time.

Разговор с богом. Гениально! Браво Гленн!!!

Absolutely stunning!

smile at 8:00

Потрясающе !!!

Потрясащие музыка и игра!!

Algún día mucha gente reconocerá que Gould es uno de los mejores intérpretes que ha habido de Beethoven.

If a woman sits next to me and listen to this with sensibility, I mary her.

WOW​

❤❤❤❤ espectacular

genius -- what a tragic short life .

He is so beautiful to watch 😍

Thanks

Marvellous!

Fuga 7:40

gould must be youtuber pianist, if he can come back to us

I wonder whether human history isn’t just a matrix in which Beethoven could exist and Glenn Gould could play him on television.

grazie di nuovo

il tempo rallentato impreziosisce la sonata

Go Glenn!

Knowledge enriched and then, then, heartstrings torn...

Nice little micro lecture. Illuminating.

Слушаю и думаю о несчастном Бетховене, его болезнях, исследованиях ДНК, всей путанице и домыслах о его происхождении. Какая разница? Бетховен был, есть и будет. Также и Гленн Гульд был, есть и будет. Они неразлучны. И мы вместе композитор+исполнитель+слушатель = гармония ❤

@Glenn Gould, thanks for (re)-posting this beautiful interpretation of my favorite movement of a Beethoven Piano Sonata! I'm hoping to use this recording for a small class (though it is low-fidelity, the phrasing is gorgeous). Though my usage might be covered under Fair Use, I'd want to make sure with y'all first. Would it be okay to present the full length of movement and to record and publically post a synchronized analysis? Thanks!

Слушая музыку Бетховена в исполнении Глена Гульда, понимаешь, что человек призван не столько быть благоприличным, сколько - носителем блага, проявлять его в себе. Вот почему среди музыкантов так ценится искренность! Ведь это значит не стыдится быть самим собой - то есть соответствовать всему лучшему, что в тебе заложено, и быть его "исполнителем", а не только слушателем. А это значит, что во все, что бы ни делал человек, должна быть вложена его душа, во всем должен быть весь он без остатка. Ведь именно душа и делает все, творит саму себя, как бы лепит ее заново, творит жизнь через себя. И как важно, чтобы она творила её из своей светлой глубины! Ибо на всем, к чему она прикасается, остаётся её отблеск, неизгладимая печать: "сделано тем, кто создан по образу и подобию Божию и чьё имя написано на небесах"! Спасибо!

Thank you to show us ya brains infomations

grazie

I've no real love of beethoven, but this piece is fantastic!! thank you glenn

Glenn Gould helped me see this sonata in a new light I’ve heard it before but it wasn’t one of my favorites Was Beethoven deaf when he composed this? How is it possible to come up with something that emotional when one can’t hear?Thank you for the video

2:01

Strolling along lake Almsee with my beautiful German Maiden hand in hand = Passion grows apace!!

Melhor vídeo do RU-vid

have listened to probably 10 recordings of this by various of the greatest of all time. Gould is simply stunning in his use of his left hand and his rubato. Only Grimaud IMO compares for the adagio passages. Richter has a haunting sound from his performance in the 60s but Gould simply walks all over everybody in the fugue. Like it's not even close. Gould had a reservoir of technical ability that seemed without limit and his ability to speak and play these pieces as if wholly internalized is without peer. Arguably the greatest pianist ever...I'd only really entertain a debate vs Horowitz and it'd have to be split along the composers they had the most affinity toward. When I hear a performance by Gould, I inevitably start comparing other all-time greats' to his and just keep coming back to Gould.

Gould with one hand is proby greater than 99.9% of pianists with two hands

진짜 개잘친다... 굴드가최고야

自分にとって神の領域です