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

Based on Ludwig van Beethovens „Piano Sonata No. 31 in A-flat major op.110", Glenn Gould gives us an overview of the musical form known as the fugue, originally broadcast on 4th March, 1963.
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00:00 Introduction by Glenn Gould
03:07 III Adagio ma non troppo - Fuga. Allegro ma non troppo

[sm]

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.

[WinrichNaujoks]

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...

[marijane]

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!

[edospeaks]

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.

[drmgg]

Vocabulary is as stunning as the music

[JohannaCTjia]

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

[elfugitivomusica]

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

[raytonhuang]

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

[fmoll]

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!

[edospeaks]

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

[gene]

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!

[muslit]

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

[andrasdehn]

Best Version of this Sonata that exists.

[simonpayne]

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

[danielpoulin]

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.

[lancesteel]

Genius pianist and brilliant speaker, spellbinding.

[hurricane_hazel]

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

[bstzfwb]

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

[rosemarysmyth]

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!

[ubiestinsula]

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!