Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance [Hybrid SACD - DSD]

Glenn Gould (Performer), Bach (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Glenn Gould
• Composer: Bach
• Audio CD (May 29, 2007)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Hybrid SACD - DSD
• Label: Sony Classics
• ASIN: B000LE0THE
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,957 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #51 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Variations

Track Listings

1. Aria

2. Variation 1

3. Variation 2

4. Variation 3: Canon On The Unison

5. Variation 4

6. Variation 5

7. Variation 6: Canon On The Second

8. Variation 7

9. Variation 8

10. Variation 9: Canon On The Third

11. Variation 10: Fughetta

12. Variation 11

13. Variation 12: Canon On The Fourth

14. Variation 13

15. Variation 14

16. Variation 15: Canon On The Fifth

17. Variation 16: Ouverture

18. Variation 17

19. Variation 18: Canon On The Sixth

20. Variation 19

See all 64 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Experience, June 1, 2007

By 

NYC "atravelingreader" (NY, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

I have lived with this historic recording through all its manisfistations - mono, enhanced mono, remix, digital remix and now Zenph rerecord. The reuslts are just incredible on this new release and Gould himself would have been the first to applaud.

These grumpy people stuck in the past are pains -- they are the same people who screamed when vinyl lp disappeared, still pine away for Milinov and the good old days.

Give yourself a thrill and listen to this disc with headphones - especially the one that simulates Gould's actual left hand- right hand playing - that alone is worht the price of the cd.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An achievement, May 30, 2007

By 

Wangler's Hat - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

What a spectacular progress in technology. Gould himself would have been much interested in this. It is rightful that Gould, and his Goldberg variation (1955) was chosen as the first project by Zenph. Question remains in whether he would have approved the release or not. In this recording, the definition of each tone is not sharp enough to represent Gould's persistence on precision. If Gould had known that this will come out with this timbre, not with the hard monoral, would he have played according to the same interpretation? On the other hand, one could simply enjoy this as one new version of his Goldberg. It might not have been as apparent if the same technology was applied on pieces like Chopin. In this regard, performance by Cortot (there is a rumor that Zenph is working on Cortot after Gould) might be juicy. In any case, this is definitely a unique achievement that provokes an argument on "the separation of composer, performer, and the audience" that Gould had intended in his time, as well as expectations for further technological advances. Worth a try.
In addition, could somebody reproduce his hum along with the piano performance? Stand-alone performance without the sign of Gould's presence is rather eerie.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Two, June 7, 2007

By 

G. A. Jacobs (Los Angeles, CA USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bach: The Goldberg Variations 1955 Performance: Zenph Re-performance (Audio CD)

I was skeptical about this enterprise. Why? Wasn't the original enough? In a sense, it was. I consider this a variation on that theme. I think Mr. Gould would have been intrigued himself. The sound on the instrument is wonderful, if not superior to the original mono. The technique is there. The vocalizations aren't(!). A binaural version for headphones is included.

Recommended!