From the first notes you hear of any performance of J.S. Bach’s “Goldberg Variations,” it is impossible not to think of Glenn Gould’s interpretations. No one could have predicted that his two recordings of Bach’s notoriously difficult work, almost 30 years apart, would not only make him internationally famous, but also change the scope of classical music forever.
The battered chair of pianist Glenn Gould, which he carried with him to perform. (Public Domain)
Referred to as a genius by the press, Gould perfectly fit the eccentric genius character with his reclusive personality and habits. No matter what the weather, he wore an overcoat and gloves. Wherever he would play, he would bring his battered chair, and warm his hands in a hot water basin before he performed. Then, he would play, hunched over his piano, often altering the tempo of pieces and humming along, as was the case with the “Goldberg Variations.”…