A State of Wonder: The Complete Goldberg Variations (1955 & 1981)

by: Johann Sebastian Bach, Glenn Gould, Tim Page

List Price: $19.97

Price: $18.49

You Save: $1.48 ( 7%)
Prices subject to change.

Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours

Amazon.com:
Glenn Gould's recording debut in 1955 of Bach's Goldberg Variations took the world by storm. His decidedly un-Romantic view, absolute technical skill, startling lucidity, and right-on rhythmic changes, combined with his eccentricities--audible humming, sometimes outrageously fast tempi--made him an instantly legendary pianist and elucidated Bach's music in a whole new way. Gould's final recording, 26 years later, was also of the Goldbergs. It's a more relaxed, sometimes much slower, more inward reading (although still very much his own, complete with oddly ferocious attacks and accents), in which he offers repeats of the first half of 15 of the Variations. Both performances are glorious, each in its own way, and this luxurious new set of three CDs is entertaining, a joy to hear, and revelatory; it belongs in any music lover's collection. The third CD is devoted to outtakes and chatter from recording sessions. At one point, Gould improvises "God Save the King" and exhibits how it turns into "The Star-Spangled Banner." And a long interview with critic Tim Page offers great insight into Gould's weird humor and unique outlook. A must-have collection. --Robert Levine

Disc 1:

Disc 2:

Disc 3:

Related Items:

Browse for similar items by category:

Music » Styles » Classical » General
Music » Styles » Classical » Symphonies » General
Browse Essentials By Composer » Browse Essentials » Essentials: Greats from the Greatest
Music » Specialty Stores » Custom Stores » Labels » Amazon.com Label Stores » The Sony BMG Masterworks Store » Classical Instrumental Music
Music » Refinements » Format (binding) » CD » CD Album

Customer Reviews

Average Rating: out of 5 stars

Rating:

- overrated?
This is not to devalue the very good merits of Gould but his Goldberg was not a turn-on to me; nevertheless, the front picture on this album is very "sexy" (I may sound rather perverse)-- I prefer Perahia's version (despite his being un-sexy).

Rating:

- GREAT sound fidelity
Refreshing to see a release that's about better sound in this age of tinny MP3's.Provided you have the gear to play it, it's dramatic - like 'digital tape.'(Now if we could just digital-tape over Glenn's mouth...)

Rating:

- Glenn Gould should not get a free pass
Ok. Glenn Gould *is* very good indeed (almost as good as Dong-Hyek Lim), but, all the same, he should not be given a free pass by his devotees. I will be the curmudgeon who awards the recording just two stars, not because of his (often eccentric but always interesting) interpretations, but because of his G-d d--n *humming*, for heaven's sake. Music is all about sound, and Gould's annoying and deliberate humming (especially audible in the 1981 set) spoils all his recordings. If the set was entitled ... Read More

Rating:

- Its Gould
It is nice to have both of Gould's recordings on one CD. As for the performances, well, it is Glenn Gould.

Rating:

- Really, so NO ONE in 1981 realized the analog tapes sounder better?
Most of us may remember the "perfect music forever" marketing that introduced CDs 25 years ago... those of us with working ears pretty quickly dismissed it for the hype it was... I've got both the '55 and '81 versions and now this release. I have NO regrets re the performance (of course) nor the sonics. My point is that I find it hard to believe that no one at what was then Columbia realized the analoge safety tape sounded so much better than the digital recording. More likely, someone did, but the ... Read More