A Film by Bruno Monsaingeon Pianist Glenn Gould made his New York debut on
January 11, 1955. His first recording, Bach's "Goldberg Variations," took
place that June. The record won instant acclaim. In 1981 Gould departed from
his custom of not re-recording a work and, 26 years after his first recording
of the "Goldberg Variations," went into the same New York studio for his
second recording of the work. Gould viewed the two interpretations as
substantially different. This new recording won two Grammy Awards. The Glenn
Gould Collection: Prepared, shot and edited over a period of five years from
1976 to 1981, the three-part series Glenn Gould Plays Bach has so far only
been seen via the limited parameters of television transmission. Now, for the
first time, this testament is made available with a sound and picture
reproduction faithful to the original conception. Glenn Gould's first
recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations in 1955 had made his name legendary.
This film, shot in New York in April 1981, marks his life - as if interpolated
between the two peaceful Arias and the two recordings, the one opening, the
other closing his career - with a symbol of cyclic perfections (Bruno
Monsaingeon) Introduction: Glenn Gould in conversation with Bruno Monsaingeon
Goldberg Variations, BW 988 . Aria with Divers Variation for the Harpsichord
with Two Manuals Glenn Gould, Piano