Glenn Gould was propelled to stardom by his 1955 recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. After a lifetime of study and contemplation, and in anticipation of his 50th birthday, Gould decided to return for another trip to the summit of this musical Everest. His radical rethinking of the Goldbergs became a new masterpiece, admired by music-lovers around the world.

It was also a valedictory statement: released on his 50th birthday, the album preceded the stroke that would end Gould’s life by a few days, a tragic bookend to a storied musical life. As Sony Classical releases a brand new 11-CD set of the complete 1981 Goldbergs session material, we talk with two consummate musical minds who were there with Gould during the creation of the recording: distinguished composer and producer Richard Einhorn, who was part of the production team, and Gould’s friend and Pulitzer Prize-winning critic, Tim Page.

Enjoy these amazing insights into Gould’s life and work as we revisit the birth of a legend in the annals of recording.

RICHARD EINHORN:

TIM PAGE:

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION: