The Gould Standard

In Part II of our conversation with pianist and YouTube sensation Nahre Sol, we explore how she creates her hugely successful online content. Nahre also dives deep into her stint as a PBS cohost, the creative process underpinning her debut album, and the triumphs and tribulations involved in her daily life as an artist and creator.

In a tribute to Glenn Gould on his upcoming 90th birth anniversary, Nahre displays the wit and grace that have made her a favourite among piano-philes and music lovers everywhere.

NAHRE SOL:

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION:

Nahre Sol is a real pathfinder. A classically trained pianist, she has swapped the concert stage for a very different platform, becoming a hit Youtuber with over 460,000 subscribers. Now a successful composer and broadcaster, Nahre breathes fresh life into the classics with her blend of wit, musical brilliance and incisive explorations of everything from musical styles to mini-concerts on toy pianos.

In this first part of an expansive interview, Nahre discusses her classical training and transition to multimedia forms of creative expression, as well as her wide range of musical influences.

NAHRE SOL:

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION:

Academy Award-winning director of ground-breaking documentaries such as Roger and Me and Fahrenheit 9/11, Michael Moore joins us for a revealing conversation about the early experiences that shaped his worldview. As a kid growing up in Flint, Michigan, Michael learned about standing up for his principles, resisting censorship, corruption and greed, and battling systemic injustice.

Long before he shot his first foot of film, he was telling stories as a way to speak publicly about uncomfortable, political issues. Here, he talks about the uneasy balance between navigating teenage insecurity and finding the grit to become an activist—as well as his special relationship with Canada.

MICHAEL MOORE:

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TGS025: Patricia Ward Kelly - On Gene Kelly’s Dance Revolutions

Gene Kelly remains one of the most beloved and iconic stars of Hollywood’s Golden Age, renowned for his dancing and singing in musicals such as An American in Paris, Singin’ in the Rain and On the Town to Brigadoon. But Gene Kelly was also a hugely influential innovator, who transformed dance on the screen from tie-and-tails elegance to an everyman art form infused with athleticism and combining classical, folk and popular styles. His groundbreaking contributions to choreography and direction had a huge impact on musical theatre, contemporary dance and filmmaking, setting the stage for the work of Bob Fosse, Jerome Robbins and Twyla Tharp. As an actor, singer and dancer, he projected a persona that audiences loved, could identify with and root for, even while being dazzled by his spectacular production numbers.

Patricia Ward Kelly, Gene’s widow, gives a personal view on their relationship, his contributions to cinema, and her ongoing work celebrating his legacy.

Patricia Ward Kelly:

The Glenn Gould Foundation:

In a career studded with dramatic and directorial milestones, Sir Kenneth Branagh has scored an artistic triumph with his most personal film ever, Belfast—the fictionalized story of his own childhood amidst the Troubles in Northern Ireland. In this candid and wide-ranging conversation, the virtuoso actor-director takes us inside his exploration of childhood under siege, along with other career highlights, including his lifelong love-affair with the works of William Shakespeare.

SIR KENNETH BRANAGH:

• Belfast, the film
• Wikipedia
• IMDB
• Twitter
• A History of The Troubles

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION:

• Official Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube Channel
• Facebook page
• GGF on LinkedIn

Kat von D, by any measure, is one-of-a-kind. One of the world’s most celebrated tattoo artists, Kat defies the idea that while life is short, art is forever, choosing a medium that is inherently perishable: the human body. She rose to fame for her starring appearances on two popular TV shows, Miami Ink and LA Ink, and parlayed that recognition into a wildly successful entrepreneurial career through her line of makeup, simultaneously becoming both an alternative fashion icon and a social media sensation.

Music has always been central to her creative inspiration, and while her image evokes the worlds of punk, metal and goth, she is equally devoted to the classical piano, citing Beethoven and Glenn Gould among her heroes. We caught up with Kat on the eve of the release of her first album, “Love Made Me Do It,” for a conversation ranging from her modest beginnings to her rise to fame and her new musical adventures.

Kat Von D:

The Glenn Gould Foundation:

Today Canada marks the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. As we reflect on the painful history and ongoing impacts of the residential school system, we are grateful to present Part 2 of our conversation with Glenn Gould Prize Laureate Alanis Obomsawin — visionary Abenaki artist and one of Turtle Island’s most passionate advocates for Indigenous Peoples.

In Part 1 we spoke with Alanis about her early life and formative experiences. In Part 2, Alanis and host Brian Levine talk in depth about her films, including “Trick or Treaty”, “When All The Leave Are Gone” and the heartwarming “Christmas at Moose Factory.” Through a lens of immense empathy and understanding, Alanis’ 53 films document the pain and outrage caused by colonialism and intergenerational trauma, as well as the unparalleled love, resilience and dreams of a people on the road to justice. At 89 years old, Alanis currently has 8 more films in production.

Alanis Obomsawin’s films are available for free through the National Film Board of Canada. We encourage you to watch, listen and reflect. Thank you, Alanis.

ALANIS OBOMSAWIN:

• NFB
• Wikipedia
• The Canadian Encyclopedia
• IMDB

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION:

• Official Website
• Twitter
• Instagram
• YouTube Channel
• Facebook page
• GGF on LinkedIn

ALANIS OBOMSAWIN:

THE GLENN GOULD FOUNDATION: