Glenn Gould: Beethoven Op.110 in Stockholm 1958

Glenn Gould plays Beethoven: Sonata 31 in A-flat, Op.110.
The Musical Academy, Stockholm, October 5, 1958.

It is not clear from the notes to BIS CD 323/234, but it sounds to me that there was no audience present for the recordings of three sonatas: Berg Op.1, Haydn No.49, and this Beethoven sonata. (In the two concertos in this set, the audience is audible.) So I surmise that Gould agreed to record these for radio broadcast for the Swedish Broadcasting Association. If only Gould had always recorded for them! The piano is tuned and in good working order. The vocalisations are at a minimum (by Gould's standards (although, at 22:50 he is singing about an octave lower than usual)). Even the chair is behaving itself. If I'm right, we have something unusually interesting: beautifully recorded sonatas, played straight through with wonderful commitment. Listen, for instance, as he makes something special of the inner voices in Beethoven's fairly prosaic fugue. There is certainly no evidence in the music that Gould was having a rotten time in Stockholm.
But make what you will of these notes, by Gould, and transcribed in Otto Friedrich's biography at page 78": "George-Walter (?) Jochum's lebensraum lecture from Nietzche; 'the flu;' Bechstein-Steinway; the dinner party; Nordic hedonism; the letter 'flying under the flag;' 'Gt." Dictator Chaplin".
And from a letter to manager Walter Homburger On October 2: "I have fallen victim to another flu a la Salzburg (current temperature 101 degrees").

Sources:
audio: BIS CD 323/324

[normangensler]

How lucky we are that these are being broadcast over the internet nowadays. Hopefully they'll always be available to future generations in some way.

[galinaprozorova]

Гений Гульда на века! Спасибо за возможность слушать!

[marichristian]

Thank you so much Mr Cross for posting Gould's superb performance. The score is a most welcome addition. In this performance, Gould paid the utmost attention to Beethoven's dynamic instructions. The final fugue is glorious and heart- breaking all at once.

[charlotterose]

I've always thought that the surviving material from the Russian tour were especially compelling. Anything I've heard recorded in Stockholm has been equally striking. So grateful for all the live tapes of Gould.

[glenngouldschair]

Late Beethoven is like Beethoven saying “im gonna compose three times as awesome from now on”
I love Op.109, Op.110 :)

[ΕΛΙΣΑΒΕΤΧΑΤΖΗΑΛΕΞΙΑΔΗ]

Νotes like cristals descending from 's severity and
Gould's fragility....thank

[fortepiano_enthusiast-ft]

One of the few interpretations where the artist takes the time to let the music come alive in this Sonata

[berlinzerberus]

Unbeschreiblich schön, intelligent und musikalisch!
GENIUS

[fmoll]

Остров сокровищ Ваш канал, мистер Кросс. Сердечное спасибо за эти богатства, не устаю радоваться. Привет Вам и наилучшие пожелания из Белоруссии! ❤️

[LuluBodhi]

This is magnificent. Thank you for sharing.

[ringzy]

You've done fine work with this channel Mr. Cross, still remaining consistent throughout the years. Thank you.

[philipstevenson]

Quite a slow tempo. Like a what-if outtake of the studio version. Of course Gould could make it work in many ways. Very interesting.

[fmoll]

Прочла до конца описание к записи - оно заслуживает отдельной похвалы❤(особенно мне понравилось про настроенное фортепиано, а также пометки, сделанные Гульдом в книжке 😁)

[kathadax]

So very beautiful! It speaks to the heart. Thank you, Bruce, for posting.

[davidorme]

He seems to follow the score more than a lot of the other great ones who play this, both in terms of dynamics and rhythm. And it's Gould?! Ironic.

[charlotterose]

Another Gould interpretation that I'm compelled to listen to twice in a row, every time it comes up on a playlist.

[romulo]

Where do you find this stuff?? Pure gold!!

[petrvareka]

The 3rd movement has a dark blue color.