Glenn Gould Live in Salzburg & Moscow: Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (from Salzburg Festival, 1959); Three-Part Inventions, BWV 788-801 (from Moscow, 1957)

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

Product Details

• Performer: Glenn Gould
• Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
• Audio CD (January 11, 1994)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0000028OE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #141,523 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #16 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Inventions
  • #32 in Music > Classical > Forms & Genres > Symphonies > Sinfonia

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An historical quirk: Gould plays Goldbergs live., January 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Glenn Gould Live in Salzburg & Moscow: Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (from Salzburg Festival, 1959); Three-Part Inventions, BWV 788-801 (from Moscow, 1957) (Audio CD)

Glenn Gould's name is invariably associated with firstly the Goldberg Variations, and secondly with his retirement from public performance. Here, however, we hear him playing the Goldbergs live, at the Salzburg Festival in the late 1950s. The recording's sound quality is very good, and the performance itself lies somewhere between the brazen race of the 1955 recording and the aged contemplation of the 1981. But the clarity of the lines is unmistakably Gouldian, and anyone interested in Gould ought to own this historical quirk, a live Goldbergs. The Inventions are also live but unfortunately are severely let down by very poor sound quality.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Glenn Gould live... sensational !, February 22, 2006

By 

Antonia Brentano (Leiden, The Netherlands) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Glenn Gould Live in Salzburg & Moscow: Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (from Salzburg Festival, 1959); Three-Part Inventions, BWV 788-801 (from Moscow, 1957) (Audio CD)

Out of curiosity I bought this disc. I already own the 1955 and 1981 recording of the Goldberg variations, which are both legendary for good reason.
But then this recording! What a drive, what a rhythm! Compared to the 1955 recording, I feel it is somewhat more lyrical, some of the tempi are somewhat less extreme. The technical command and concentration are unbelievable. Well, I won't analyze it any more, you just HAVE TO listen to this disc!
The recording sound of the Goldberg variations is surprisingly good. The recording sound of the inventions is not so good, but I have heard worse.

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live is best...., August 2, 2004

By 

M. Traylor (Vernonia, Oregon USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Glenn Gould Live in Salzburg & Moscow: Bach: Goldberg Variations, BWV 988 (from Salzburg Festival, 1959); Three-Part Inventions, BWV 788-801 (from Moscow, 1957) (Audio CD)

If you want perfection , don't buy this one. If this is your first Goldberg, don't buy this one. If you want passion in the performance of this beautiful music, buy this one.