Programme Index

Discover 11,128,835 listings and 282,100 playable programmes from the BBC

Glenn Gould Evening: the Idea of Gould

on BBC Radio 3

Since his death at the age of 50 in 1982 the myth of Glenn Gould, recluse, recording artist, radio innovator and piano-playing genius, has snowballed. In this special evening of programmes Christopher Cook features some of his best-loved - and most idiosyncratic - recordings, the comments of colleagues and admirers, and interviews recorded at this autumn's Glenn Gould
Gathering in Toronto. Sharing the evening are broadcaster and Gould-collaborator Humphrey Burton, writer Nicholas Spice and Canadian novelist Anne Michaels.
7.02 This Is Glenn Gould. An introduction to the man, his music and his enduring appeal. Including an unissued recording of the teenage Gould playing Chopin.
7.15 Variations on a Theme. Throughout his life Gould was closely associated with Bach's monumental Goldberg Variations. Colleagues and fellow keyboard players unravel the magic of his 1955 studio recording. With Angela Hewitt, Maggie Cole, John Roberts and Tim Page.
7.35 The Cult of Genius. Was Gould a mad genius? Did it help him sell records? Steven Connor considers the history of the eccentric performer with Sander Gilman and Tim Page. Followed by music by Glenn Gould 's s favourite composer,
Orlando Gibbons , and one of his own short pieces.
8.10 Brahms Piano Concerto No 1 in D minor (Maestoso). In 1962 Gould performed
Brahms's first piano concerto with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. It was a somewhat unorthodox performance, and Bernstein prefaced it with a disclaimer addressed to the Carnegie Hall audience.
8.45 Long Live the Recording Studio! In 1964 Gould gave his last concert. Many thought his withdrawal was a publicity stunt, but he never played in public again and repeatedly defended his decision in interviews - famously on BBC Television with Humphrey Burton.
9.00 Wagner, transcr Gould Prelude: Die Meistersinger von Nurmberg
9.10 Gould and Mozart. The pianists Angela Hewitt and Joanna MacGregor consider Gould's recordings of Mozart.
9.25 Gould the Accompanist
A performance of a Bach sonata for violin and keyboard. With Jaime Laredo (violin).
9.45 Hello, Hello. Are You There? People who took his calls remember how Gould used the phone obsessively to sustain intimacy and maintain distance.
10.00 Beethoven Piano Sonata in C minor, Op 13 (Pathetique)
10.15 Gould and the Idea of Radio. Gould's innovative approach to radio included the production of a number of artist portraits, including Stokowski, Casals and Schoenberg, plus the development of the idea of "contrapuntal radio" in The Solitude Trilogy, featured in tonight's Through the Night.
10.45 Sleepless in Toronto. A troubled mind, insomnia and strange nocturnal habits: an exploration of Gould's night-time.
11.10 Bach Goldberg Variations, BWV988 (1981 final recording)
Brian Kay on Glenn Gould : page 58

Contributors

Unknown:
Glenn Gould
Unknown:
Christopher Cook
Unknown:
Glenn Gould
Unknown:
Humphrey Burton
Unknown:
Anne Michaels.
Unknown:
Glenn Gould.
Unknown:
Angela Hewitt
Unknown:
Maggie Cole
Unknown:
John Roberts
Unknown:
Tim Page.
Unknown:
Steven Connor
Unknown:
Sander Gilman
Unknown:
Tim Page.
Music By:
Glenn Gould
Unknown:
Orlando Gibbons
Unknown:
Leonard Bernstein
Unknown:
Humphrey Burton.
Unknown:
Meistersingervon Nurmberg
Pianists:
Angela Hewitt
Pianists:
Joanna MacGregor
Unknown:
Bach Goldberg
Unknown:
Brian Kay
Unknown:
Glenn Gould

BBC Radio 3

About BBC Radio 3

Live music and the arts: broadcasts more live music than any other radio network. Classical music is its core. Genres include world and new music, jazz, speech and drama.

Appears in

Suggest an Edit

We are trying to reflect the information printed in the Radio Times magazine.

  • Press the 'Suggest an Edit' button
  • Type in any changes to the title, synopsis or contributor information using the Radio Times Style Guide for reference.
  • Click the Submit Edits button.
    Your changes will be sent for verification and if accepted, will appear in due course More