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It makes me want to cry out of sheer awe at what people have been capable of and I fear we have lost much of the talent potential in the modern world of social media with plastic lives and plastic audiences of little depth. ....an amazing performance by Gould and Maestro Bernstein interpreting the Master, Bach.
This is so incredible. The conductor talks music, explains, plays the piano, discusses Hamlet, all for 4 mins straight and with an entire orchestra behind him. Then he proves once and for all a conductor's vital role in leading an orchestra. And then they begin...
My admiration for Bernstein knows no bounds. He was one of a kind. A performer, composer, arranger AND teacher. Usually people who are genius players don't teach well because they are too far above the pupil. But Bernstein had such a wonderful way of teaching what he knew. He taught me the number scale on one of his children's concerts and it was like a light bulb going off in my brain that totally changed my way of understanding music. I will always be grateful. I made a living in music for 50 years. Still do.
I agree - my dad's collection of vinyl boxsets has some Bernstein from "back in the day" - often (or at least once, my memory is hazy...) a side is given over to examples and explanation. The one I'm thinking about is of Beethoven symphonies where he talks the listener through the first movement of the Heroic Symphony. Simple, unprentitous, it invites the listener to a higher level of appreciation without any tone of superiority or being patronising. He did a lot of good in his lifetime, God bless him.
Brilliant, but humble. Bernstein: "Glenn Gould must decide, and I as his accompanist...". Not his maestro or conductor, but simply his accompanist. I love that line.
I dont think theres an opposition between brillant and humble. Humility makes one be dedicated only to what one’s doing. (I hope my formulation is comprhensible 😅)
@@mikecimerian6913 Yes I think so, and I think this humility along with genius js remarkable, I acknowledge my comment was a little bit off-topic. But I wanted to write it anyway 😅
I don't know how anyone can listen to this and not feel they are in the presence of true greatness. In this case, quadruple greatness: Bach's music itself, Gould's playing, Bernstein's conducting, and the orchestra's performance.
Indeed Bach, Haëndel, Scarlatti, et al. were great, but we have Cardi B and Snoop Dog. There's really no comparison. (When people wonder, "What happened to American culture?" I usually respond by saying, " What culture?"
The other comments about Bernstein's masterful introduction and Gould's incredible interpretation aside, can we talk about the camerawork for this broadcast for a moment? It doesn't just capture the performance-the close-ups of Gould's hands, or his feet on the pedals, or his enraptured expression when playing a passage he particularly loved, or cutting over to Bernstein conducting, or a shot of the entire ensemble… it captures a sense of intimacy that almost gives the viewer a feeling of being there, experiencing the music in person. We don't see that kind of care and attention often anymore, at least in the States. Beautifully filmed!
I was about to offer the same observation. The filming, the attention to details, the captions of particulary moving expressions from Gould... It makes you think you are watching a movie, instead of a concert. So great.
Bach wrote his musical ideas three hundred years ago. The fact that the music is relevant and vibrant to our ears today says something significant about the mysteries of music.
Gould's chord melody sense was immaculate. He naturally accented notes in either hand, with any finger, to highlight the overarching melodic structure. Amazing control.
People generally had much better vocabularies and education back then. It didn't take a near genius to understand anything he said. A poor Jr. High dropout would've read Shakespeare and been as educated as a 3rd year college student today.. Only with a better lexicon.
When all is said and done, the incredible love of Bach in Gould's fingers is perhaps one of the greatest love stories that this world will ever witness...
@@overheardtalk It's nice of you to ask permission - old-fashioned elegance, if you like. If I hadn't sincerely felt what I said, I wouldn't have written it. I'm sure that many people feel the same way. Feel free to quote it.
Yes, it's fantastic to see Gould's beautiful hands at work, and his face is also compelling and indescribably transcendent. He seems beyond-human. I simply cannot get enough of this great genius.
@@kezothehappylurker787 Gould has such a unique posture his action to keys is so low, rather than falling on them from height, he seems to ‘pull’ at them, and to each note an distinct and precise inflection. It’s stunning to watch.
Wow. There's a great documentary on the life of Glenn Gould, on how he electrified classical music by refusing to follow any accepted interpretation and shattered all expectations. He was often and soundly criticized for it: it just pushed him further. This may the finest example of his genius for interpretation and creativity - it's like he and Bach are collaborating, pushing each other to greatness. Bernstein's intro, the perfect camera work catching the close-ups on his fingers when he's teasing and toying with the notes - it is all sublime. More than any other musician, Gould made classical music lovers out of those who did not love classical music. This is stunning.
@@rdubb77 who is the classical estalbishment? Gould was the most famous painist alive in his time, his 1955 recording of the goldberg variations was hailed as genius, so how did you come to that conclusion?
The movie Maestro was dull, Hollywood excess. Thankyou for posting this real life Bernstein. Its is like starlight on freshly fallen snow. Bach Bernstein Gould, like the critical mass of musical genius.
If you start listening to this performance you can't stop listening until you've reached the ending. Feels like there is something spiritual about this performance that goes straight into your core.
It is difficult to imagine this piece played any better. It almost looks like Bach in heaven is sending a direct message to Gould that flows right out of him into the audience. A completely miraculous thing to watch.
Takes extreme guts, intellect, and wisdom for a conductor, especially one of stature, to know to stay in the background. Applause to Berenstein for knowing where he stands.
You don't tell Gould what to do, Gould tells you what to do. That's how he lived his life, he knew exactly what he wanted and was not going to compromise.
@@rdubb77 they actually had problems with each other on that exact matter where he apparently shamed him by saying something like "who has the lead in a concerto? the conductor or the soloist?" In front of an audience
Parsya o_o I never saw it as a public shaming. The matter of discussion was a Brahms concerto, and Bernstein, before beginning, admitted to the audience that this particular preparation was challenging for him because Gould wished to take the concerto at a variety of tempi which Bernstein strongly disagreed with. Bernstein played it off as a matter of learning a new interpretation of the concerto. Regardless, I do think this was the end of their professional career together. Edit: forgot “together”
Sorry but the professional way to approach it is to NOT announce that you have differences. Just play it however you’ve worked it out. They were both geniuses of the highest order and I love them both, but Bernstein had the bigger ego.
Judging by the comments under this audio-video there are still people who are aware of what culture is and what it takes to be a person of culture. Thank you for not letting the mass-media corrupt your minds.
Bravo! Absolutely astounding from every perspective. My goodness! The camera angles, the passion on Gould’s face and grace and vigor of his hands and the delicate moves on the pedal to Bernstein’s emotional balanced dynamic conducting and Lester forget the orchestration. Bravo. Tears of joy! Oh, and lest we forget, that the spark of the divine brought forth that amazing composition from Bach’s grey matter. 😊
Glenn Gould was a man too talented for this world. Watch his facial expression as he plays. He's not playing, he's expressing all his emotions, telling a story, his way, and feeling every single note uttered by the keys and the orchestra. Such brilliance and light, so much depth and passion, seems no single piece was ever adequate for his self expression. As a proud Canadian, we lost a part of our national heritage when he passed, but he left us such a gift, his legacy for all future pianists to emulate in their own way. You see, for me, a mere amateur, music, particularly, classical piano, isn't music, but is, in fact, a language, one which needs no translation, one which is heard, and spoken, differently, by each individual, depending upon their sensibilities and understanding. Music is a gift to the world, as was Mr Gould, a gift that will be enjoyed, and given, for all time, breaching all barriers.
Incredible how Canada has given the world so many great pianists, none greater than Gould and Oscar Peterson, but lest we forget Paul Bley, Louis Lortie, Angela Hewitt and so many more
Canadians everywhere can be proud that Glenn Gould’s Bach continues to travel through interstellar space on the Voyager space probes. We must be confident that one day it will be the first Earth music to be heard by an alien life form. We surely are not alone in the universe.
You know, something is interesting about this performance. I've watched a bunch of different performances and they are all brilliant. This though, is otherworldly, almost eerie. There are savants born every day, but this is like just a completely different category...makes me think about humanity in a general sense.
On top of the performance itself, which others have eloquently commented on, I'd like to add appreciation for the camera work and editing - very good camera angles so you can really see the keyboard clearly, from a variety of shots of performer, keyboard, conduct, feet etc. and Gould's face. Sheer quality at every level.
Agreed. Made by people who were trying to give the TV audience the best possible experience of the performance. Many commenters have said that this would not appear on TV today, because audiences don't want this stuff. Maybe, but the main reason it wouldn't appear today is because such programmes are now made by TV careerists - the cameraman figures he gets no recognition for a steady shot of both hands, so he zooms up the conductors nostril or pans the stucco ceiling - the director doesn't know or care whether Gould is a genius, he does know that he won't get his shot at the big time unless he cuts from instrument to instrument in some noticeable way. The annual appraisal of program makers by TV bosses has much to answer for, in degrading the purpose and quality of such programmes. Reith is much despised now in the UK - but we could do with more of his culture, and a lot less of Alan Yentob (with apologies to non-Brit readers, who won't know who either of these men are).
I'm just as impressed with the sound quality considering how relatively primitive the equipment was compared to what we have now. Apparently, good engineers can do great things with whatever they have to work with.
That's back when television sets were still somewhat expensive, and, arguably still the province of folks who aspired to better things, and had some idea of what "better things" were. This is also a time when television as a public service was an idea that still had merit amongst those in power.
It is very hard to add to the wonderful comments made about this video. One thing I could say is that when I am lost in my despair and disgust over humanity then I see something like this I am amazed at the wondrousness of certain humans and of the mystery of it all. So it is back and forth.
Glenn Gould was a phenomenon. He isn't playing the music, he IS the music -- Johann Sebastian Gould. There's a part where the right hand is playing alone, and Gould is directing it with his left hand. And then at the end, his left hand slashes, Stop! He once said that his vocalizing was filling the gap between the piano and the music. You can see his face, urging the music out of the instrument: "Come on, come on!" Awesome!
At 12:03 I strated to cry. Everything in that moment is perfect. This is probably one of the most beautiful thing in the music history. God bless Bach.
I love his unorthodox playing style, hunched over the piano with his hands almost hanging off the keyboard, sitting on a chair instead of a piano bench.
Whether you love it or not, it led to his inability to play well for more than short periods of time later in his career. He sounded fantastic in spite of his posture and not because of it.
Usually either the piano or the orchestra dominates and covers the other to the point of distraction. This is the most exquisitely coordinated piano concerto I've ever heard, and Gould is, like Wanda Landowski, one who draws everything possible out of Bach, the musicality, the emotion, the sublime fact that music comes from and enriches the soul of man.
לא קיבלתי חינוך מוסיקלי. אני בכלל לא מבין גדול במוסיקה. אני לא בקי בים היצירות של בך. האזנתי לביצוע הגאוני הזה והתפעלתי. הפסנתרן, התזמורת ומנצחה נתנו ביצוע מופתי של היצירה. אני בטוח שיוהאן סבסטיאן שם למעלה מחא כפיים בהתלהבות. צר לי לציין שהיצירה עצמה איננה מן המיטב של בך. כשכותבים פיסקה מוסיקלית בת 8 משפטים שמהם 7 הראשונים זהים זה לזה ובאים זה אחר זה, ובכן... ריח של חדגוניות. בך ידע להפתיע ולגוון. האם ההפתעה כאן היא: "הביטו! גם אני יודע לשעמם!"?
I saw a clip of this yesterday on the news and I was captivated watching Glenn Gould play. I am glad it is here. You are so right! He is just so incredible!
Licking the keys, sniffing them too! But I know exactly what you are trying to say - Gould almost melds into his piano, becomes part of it. What he must feel - most off us will never appreciate.
quel phrasé sublime !!quel calme intérieur , quelle clarté et quelle intensité néanmoins !..............quand bien des pianistes seront oubliés on écoutera encore longtemps GOULD sacré Glenn!!!
This is quite possibly the most elegant, beautiful, enigmatic portrayal of the magic of music’s hidden mathematics and soul-wrenching BAM that I think I’ve ever heard. Leonard Bernstein and Glenn Goold... wow
Bach, Bernstein and Gould at the same time in the same place... I couldn't ask for more. Thank you for sharing the divine gem like this one. The Paradise would sound like this...
This is an absolutely mesmerizing and captivating performance by Glenn Gould, by Leonard Bernstein, and by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Like Bach himself, they also have passed on; their inimitable renditions, however, have fortunately been assiduously recorded and preserved, and they are now part of our cultural heritage. Thanks to UA-cam, and enthusiasts like AntPDC and erp65, musical treasures like this great keyboard concerto, can now be enjoyed by millions of listeners in their own homes. Leonard Bernstein was a very influential musician (composer, conductor, pianist) with an unusually extensive cultural frame of reference. In his televised lectures, he drew on this knowledge not only of music with its many subcategories, but of history, linguistics, world literature, etc., which made his lectures thrilling, unique, and memorable. The combination Bernstein, Gould plus composer X, always makes for an exciting performance! Many thanks to all!
10:24 Each of Gould's fingers has its own genius brain. His left arm and hand start directing the right hand. Each part is super-human, and they are all together, connected, with the music pouring through them. Gould is a gift from God for poor humanity. It is all so brilliant and beyond comprehension, there is a tendency to minimize it as mechanical. But that is wrong. His playing and artistry are at the highest level of humanity. Inspiring. Nice to be sharing this with all here.
Who could not be carried away listening to Glenn Gould playing anything by Bach? It's readily apparent Gould, himself, was carried away by the beauty of it all whenever he played. One gets the rare and delightful feeling obtained when a master craftsman like Gould plays a composition written by a genius like Bach. The world misses them both.
Simply one of the most sublime performances I've ever seen and heard. Maestro Bernstein's wonderful opening introduction and conducting, an orchestra performing at top peak, and the irreplaceable Glenn Gould in communication with the spirit of divine music, giving his all as always. Thank you so much for sharing this video!
It’s captivating from the first note to the last. The guy is possessed. It’s mechanical but not mechanical, intellectual but so emotional, raw and refined altogether, all at the right places. They can’t teach you how to play like this. Totally unique. Exceptional rendition. Stark beauty.
What Gould does here is the exact reason i love music. His expression of self through this piece and others is what makes him eternally and unequivocally unique. People like this wont be forgotten.
Gould reminds me of a snake charmer, coaxing and mesmerising the notes from the piano. It is a privilege to be able to watch this. The sad realisation, though, is that too few would have the capacity to concentrate, appreciate or even understand what is happening here. At 65 years of age, I fear mankind has already peaked and we are on the downward slope with reality TV, rap music and all manner of unutterable celebrity garbage. This video is a jewel.
If it’s any consolation, I’m a quarter of your age, and though I do enjoy rap, and other genres, I’m still here appreciating entrancing performances like this. The art of creation, and brilliance in doing so (whether it be music, film, visual art, etc) is something that won’t ever be lost so long as young people continue to find appreciation for it and keep it in circulation. Will brilliant art fall out of the mainstream? Likely so. But it won’t ever truly disappear.
1. Magnifient class of Bernstein about what interpretation is. 2. Supreme Gould (as always) with Bach. 3. Best camera shots of a piano performance ever. 4. Best UA-cam video I've watched (TV broadcast!!!). 5. Last not least: This last Bach reincarnation in Gould has put it difficult to God to launch future reincarnations.
I like Gleen Gould as a piano player and character. His Bach interpretation is out of this world. Bernstein and Gould working together giving freedom to each other and this results in an amazing performance for piano and orchestra.
Certainly the best ever live interpretation of this masterpiece of J.S. Bach ! I just have emotional tears each time I hear this. Mr Gould was a genius.
It’s obvious that Glen is beyond this world’s limited dimension. When he plays, he seems to be lifted up into another dimension and he takes us to this higher level with him and Bach. That is why you cannot describe his playing and the experience, in words.
To be fair he was on the most powerful medication 60’s psychiatrist had to offer, from painkillers to antidepressants to anxiolytics. Love his skill and interpretations but man was he flying high
Magically beautiful and emotional interpretation. People sometimes joke that Bach was such a genius that he must have been from another galaxy. You can probably say the same for Glenn Gould.
Glenn Gould playing Bach is a revelation and although this was recorded 57 years ago it is as fresh and immediate as if was recorded today. What musicians !!
This is just wonderful. Look at his fingers play - his gesture and connection to the music. I think his pinkie finger must be the length of most men's middle finger. Bernstein presenting in his white tie and eloquent mid Atlantic voice to boot. This is a truly beautiful piece of footage. I love, love, love it!
glenn appears to have the piano wired directly into his brain. hes feeling and hearing every note in realtime. hes a virtual machine its fascinating to watch. hes a very rare talent.
So true. I feel honoured to have known a woman, a pianist, artist, friend and ex neighbour, who had known Glenn Gould in her youth and has/d love letters he wrote to her after a holiday in Canada. I have two her abstract paintings she gave to me as a gift and it's a wonderful link back to Glenn himself and this performance!
I saw Gould perform this concerto some time in the 1960s in Columbus, Ohio. After all these years I can't remember whether it was with a touring orchestra (Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cleveland, others frequently came through) or with the Columbus Symphony under Evan Whallon. But I absolutely remember the performance itself - even more electrifying in person than this stunning video. I also remember his unusual foibles: his humming, which is well-known, but also that above the keyboard he had several large pieces of cardboard formed into a sort of booklet, on whose leaves were pasted cut-out pages from a miniature score.
Nobody will EVER surpass these performances. Gould is the ultimate interpreter of Bach. And Bach is the ultimate, supreme composer. These recordings may be old, but they will last forever.
What the hell? Ads in the middle of a moving performance?! Rude and jarring stab in the back. Magnificent passionate pianist with excellent interpretation. Such beautiful hands. Flowing like a stream over smooth pebbles, creating whirlpools ands eddies.
Of all the Gould vids, this one in particular, is a masterpiece! Gould/Bernstein/Bach PLUS spot on camera work make this vid rise to the top. A treasure!
This video brings me joy each day! I literally watch it at least once a day as a form of meditation. I am so grateful that the editors focus almost entirely on the great Gould’s hands! What a gift to anyone that plays piano at any level. And to any of the critics that hate his “vocal” interference.... I love it! It used to annoy me 40+ years ago when I heard it on a tape of Goldberg variations and couldn’t figure out what the noise was, but I now love ❤️ it and am aggravated when it is edited out of his recordings. He had a beautiful voice and was encouraged by his mother to do this as an aid to his practicing. Thanks Utube for this recording!
I agree. My sister played piano well enough as a child to win awards. She disrespected Gould's humming, and this kind of poisoned my mind towrds his playing. Eventually a few years back I saw videos of Gould and found I loved his vocalizing. Ha ha. Give it up, critics. He is the genius pianist of all time.
you hear the word captivating thrown around a lot, but when he started that two fingered playing, I was absolutely held captive to my screen...amazing. and what an informative intro by Lenny
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Or go premium as I have surrendered into doing. But now enjoy these types of wonderful videos in an uninterrupted manner 🎶🎶🎶thank you for posting
@@EppingMusicSchool Never surrender
@@papageitaucher618 ratio concurrence ✓
If you download the video, ads are eliminated.
You got that right for desktop users. UA-cam on mobile devices has become unusable due to ad spamming.
I never saw a pianist like Glenn. So fragile . So unique. So humble. With his little chair . Singing feeling crying too. He will never be repeated
Humble?
@@Felipe.Taboada. crazy
Gould was one very intense individual.
It makes me want to cry out of sheer awe at what people have been capable of and I fear we have lost much of the talent potential in the modern world of social media with plastic lives and plastic audiences of little depth. ....an amazing performance by Gould and Maestro Bernstein interpreting the Master, Bach.
@@janebishop5885 Yes, and now we are facing AI music.
You clearly haven’t heard of Hania Rani, or Lisa Bella Donna, or a myriad of other exceptionally gifted, brilliant musicians making music today.
This is so incredible. The conductor talks music, explains, plays the piano, discusses Hamlet, all for 4 mins straight and with an entire orchestra behind him. Then he proves once and for all a conductor's vital role in leading an orchestra. And then they begin...
I have never seen that before, but was truly pleased with it.
And they make history!
Bad ass indeed.
In leading a culture indeed.
Wonderfull
My admiration for Bernstein knows no bounds. He was one of a kind. A performer, composer, arranger AND teacher. Usually people who are genius players don't teach well because they are too far above the pupil. But Bernstein had such a wonderful way of teaching what he knew. He taught me the number scale on one of his children's concerts and it was like a light bulb going off in my brain that totally changed my way of understanding music. I will always be grateful. I made a living in music for 50 years. Still do.
I agree - my dad's collection of vinyl boxsets has some Bernstein from "back in the day" - often (or at least once, my memory is hazy...) a side is given over to examples and explanation. The one I'm thinking about is of Beethoven symphonies where he talks the listener through the first movement of the Heroic Symphony. Simple, unprentitous, it invites the listener to a higher level of appreciation without any tone of superiority or being patronising. He did a lot of good in his lifetime, God bless him.
Hey man, could you suggest some resources for someone who wants to get their leg in the door. Thank you
Lennie was indeed a truly great master, feels like a friend at the same time.
how fortunate abd blessed you are! not only w your talent but with the most passionate and geniuses in your Life! thanks for sharing 🖤🤍🖤🤍
Beautiful comment :)
Glen Gould was absolutely a treasure at the keyboard. I love watching and listening to him. He was divinely gifted.
Brilliant, but humble. Bernstein: "Glenn Gould must decide, and I as his accompanist...". Not his maestro or conductor, but simply his accompanist. I love that line.
Thank you Nick.
Yes genius and humble
I dont think theres an opposition between brillant and humble. Humility makes one be dedicated only to what one’s doing.
(I hope my formulation is comprhensible 😅)
I suppose that he considers both of them to be musical scholars and colleagues.
@@mikecimerian6913 Yes I think so, and I think this humility along with genius js remarkable, I acknowledge my comment was a little bit off-topic. But I wanted to write it anyway 😅
When three geniuses (Bach, Bernstein, Gould) get together we expect nothing less of perfection!!! Outstanding!!!
Solo Bach es genio, los otros pueden ser maestros , prodigios pero solo Johann Sebastian Bach es el genio, padre la música.
I don't know how anyone can listen to this and not feel they are in the presence of true greatness. In this case, quadruple greatness: Bach's music itself, Gould's playing, Bernstein's conducting, and the orchestra's performance.
I don't even know anything about music but I for sure feel overwhelmingly something positive from this scene and play
The only thing I like more than Gould is very very early Liberace.
@@Marie-zb6wi me too
Indeed Bach, Haëndel, Scarlatti, et al. were great, but we have Cardi B and Snoop Dog. There's really no comparison.
(When people wonder, "What happened to American culture?" I usually respond by saying, " What culture?"
@@excelsior999 cultural deterioration perhaps precedes intellectual deterioration..
The other comments about Bernstein's masterful introduction and Gould's incredible interpretation aside, can we talk about the camerawork for this broadcast for a moment? It doesn't just capture the performance-the close-ups of Gould's hands, or his feet on the pedals, or his enraptured expression when playing a passage he particularly loved, or cutting over to Bernstein conducting, or a shot of the entire ensemble… it captures a sense of intimacy that almost gives the viewer a feeling of being there, experiencing the music in person. We don't see that kind of care and attention often anymore, at least in the States. Beautifully filmed!
I couldn't agree more David. Given the limited resources available for this film, the camera work is sensational.
I was about to offer the same observation. The filming, the attention to details, the captions of particulary moving expressions from Gould... It makes you think you are watching a movie, instead of a concert. So great.
Bernstein was a virtuoso keyboardist in his own right.
This who production is a work of art.
The transition when Gould first appear in camera is wonderful
Bach wrote his musical ideas three hundred years ago. The fact that the music is relevant and vibrant to our ears today says something significant about the mysteries of music.
Quality has no expiation date...
Except for maybe quality cheese. Do NOT eat a 300 year old piece of brie. ;o)
@@danh5150 :D
to be fair, Bach is like a 20th century composer whose soul missed the turn at Alburqerque and wound up being born 300 years too early
@@danh5150 I think one would die from the smell alone, if it has not disintegrated by now
Bach brought the music down from a heavenly zone where time does not exist
Gould's chord melody sense was immaculate. He naturally accented notes in either hand, with any finger, to highlight the overarching melodic structure. Amazing control.
I'm convinced his vocalizations were a form of counting....he's structuring his orchestration by numbers.
So beautiful. I love the intro and old school pictures where they spoke to the audience like we were all inquisitive geniuses
💟 I remember
People generally had much better vocabularies and education back then. It didn't take a near genius to understand anything he said. A poor Jr. High dropout would've read Shakespeare and been as educated as a 3rd year college student today.. Only with a better lexicon.
When all is said and done, the incredible love of Bach in Gould's fingers is perhaps one of the greatest love stories that this world will ever witness...
twangbarfly wonderful comment
best comment on here. im writing a book on bach and will quote this with your permission.
@@overheardtalk It's nice of you to ask permission - old-fashioned elegance, if you like.
If I hadn't sincerely felt what I said, I wouldn't have written it. I'm sure that many people feel the same way. Feel free to quote it.
FINALLY, A cameraman that keeps the camera on his HANDS and not exclusively on his face!
Kkkkk 😂😂😂
Yes, it's fantastic to see Gould's beautiful hands at work, and his face is also compelling and indescribably transcendent. He seems beyond-human.
I simply cannot get enough of this great genius.
@@phoebelinden9602 His fingers have an intimate relationship with every key as he treats each as a separate instrument!
Those decisions are made by a director, not a cameraman !
@@kezothehappylurker787 Gould has such a unique posture his action to keys is so low, rather than falling on them from height, he seems to ‘pull’ at them, and to each note an distinct and precise inflection. It’s stunning to watch.
I’m just seeing this for the first time. My God! No words.
Thank you CBS for having the wisdom and foresight to save this document for eternity.
It's truly gorgeous.
Wow. There's a great documentary on the life of Glenn Gould, on how he electrified classical music by refusing to follow any accepted interpretation and shattered all expectations. He was often and soundly criticized for it: it just pushed him further. This may the finest example of his genius for interpretation and creativity - it's like he and Bach are collaborating, pushing each other to greatness. Bernstein's intro, the perfect camera work catching the close-ups on his fingers when he's teasing and toying with the notes - it is all sublime. More than any other musician, Gould made classical music lovers out of those who did not love classical music. This is stunning.
This should be top comment
You said it all.
Do you remember the name of the documentary?
@@maddssmithy Glenn Gould - The Goldberg Variations
@@rdubb77 who is the classical estalbishment? Gould was the most famous painist alive in his time, his 1955 recording of the goldberg variations was hailed as genius, so how did you come to that conclusion?
The movie Maestro was dull, Hollywood excess. Thankyou for posting this real life Bernstein. Its is like starlight on freshly fallen snow. Bach Bernstein Gould, like the critical mass of musical genius.
Bernstein introduction is so articulated and educational that it is a performance in itself.
If you start listening to this performance you can't stop listening until you've reached the ending. Feels like there is something spiritual about this performance that goes straight into your core.
Absolutely - whatever else Glenn Gould is, he is 100% compelling, particularly here!
It certainly hooks you in!
Yamcha the wolf totally agree. Glenn Gould is more than meets the ear
So true!
absolutely ... it's like an exciting story, with sub-plots ... you just want to know the end.
What a brilliant pianist Gould was. Outstanding!
It is difficult to imagine this piece played any better. It almost looks like Bach in heaven is sending a direct message to Gould that flows right out of him into the audience. A completely miraculous thing to watch.
Takes extreme guts, intellect, and wisdom for a conductor, especially one of stature, to know to stay in the background. Applause to Berenstein for knowing where he stands.
You don't tell Gould what to do, Gould tells you what to do. That's how he lived his life, he knew exactly what he wanted and was not going to compromise.
@@rdubb77 they actually had problems with each other on that exact matter where he apparently shamed him by saying something like "who has the lead in a concerto? the conductor or the soloist?" In front of an audience
Parsya o_o I never saw it as a public shaming. The matter of discussion was a Brahms concerto, and Bernstein, before beginning, admitted to the audience that this particular preparation was challenging for him because Gould wished to take the concerto at a variety of tempi which Bernstein strongly disagreed with. Bernstein played it off as a matter of learning a new interpretation of the concerto. Regardless, I do think this was the end of their professional career together.
Edit: forgot “together”
The sheer presence of the conductor is stunning, he is trying to negotiate with a God gifted madman and succeeds.
Sorry but the professional way to approach it is to NOT announce that you have differences. Just play it however you’ve worked it out. They were both geniuses of the highest order and I love them both, but Bernstein had the bigger ego.
From the Golden Age of television. Phenomenal performance from all, including the camera work.
Alternate title: listen to (and watch) a master pianist hypnotize himself.
Awesome performance
He had such beautiful hands.
Judging by the comments under this audio-video there are still people who are aware of what culture is and what it takes to be a person of culture. Thank you for not letting the mass-media corrupt your minds.
Bravo! Absolutely astounding from every perspective. My goodness! The camera angles, the passion on Gould’s face and grace and vigor of his hands and the delicate moves on the pedal to Bernstein’s emotional balanced dynamic conducting and Lester forget the orchestration. Bravo. Tears of joy! Oh, and lest we forget, that the spark of the divine brought forth that amazing composition from Bach’s grey matter. 😊
Glenn Gould was a man too talented for this world. Watch his facial expression as he plays. He's not playing, he's expressing all his emotions, telling a story, his way, and feeling every single note uttered by the keys and the orchestra. Such brilliance and light, so much depth and passion, seems no single piece was ever adequate for his self expression. As a proud Canadian, we lost a part of our national heritage when he passed, but he left us such a gift, his legacy for all future pianists to emulate in their own way. You see, for me, a mere amateur, music, particularly, classical piano, isn't music, but is, in fact, a language, one which needs no translation, one which is heard, and spoken, differently, by each individual, depending upon their sensibilities and understanding. Music is a gift to the world, as was Mr Gould, a gift that will be enjoyed, and given, for all time, breaching all barriers.
Incredible how Canada has given the world so many great pianists, none greater than Gould and Oscar Peterson, but lest we forget Paul Bley, Louis Lortie, Angela Hewitt and so many more
Canadians everywhere can be proud that Glenn Gould’s Bach continues to travel through interstellar space on the Voyager space probes. We must be confident that one day it will be the first Earth music to be heard by an alien life form. We surely are not alone in the universe.
The transcendental state in which Gould performed is legendary... he became music itself. Beautiful to watch.
You know, something is interesting about this performance. I've watched a bunch of different performances and they are all brilliant. This though, is otherworldly, almost eerie.
There are savants born every day, but this is like just a completely different category...makes me think about humanity in a general sense.
On top of the performance itself, which others have eloquently commented on, I'd like to add appreciation for the camera work and editing - very good camera angles so you can really see the keyboard clearly, from a variety of shots of performer, keyboard, conduct, feet etc. and Gould's face. Sheer quality at every level.
Agreed. Made by people who were trying to give the TV audience the best possible experience of the performance. Many commenters have said that this would not appear on TV today, because audiences don't want this stuff. Maybe, but the main reason it wouldn't appear today is because such programmes are now made by TV careerists - the cameraman figures he gets no recognition for a steady shot of both hands, so he zooms up the conductors nostril or pans the stucco ceiling - the director doesn't know or care whether Gould is a genius, he does know that he won't get his shot at the big time unless he cuts from instrument to instrument in some noticeable way. The annual appraisal of program makers by TV bosses has much to answer for, in degrading the purpose and quality of such programmes. Reith is much despised now in the UK - but we could do with more of his culture, and a lot less of Alan Yentob (with apologies to non-Brit readers, who won't know who either of these men are).
Right on in every angle David!! :-)
Thank you for mentioning this. Agree 💯%
I'm just as impressed with the sound quality considering how relatively primitive the equipment was compared to what we have now. Apparently, good engineers can do great things with whatever they have to work with.
And this is what commercial Television was like in 1960. Imagine them doing anything like this now
That's back when television sets were still somewhat expensive, and, arguably still the province of folks who aspired to better things, and had some idea of what "better things" were.
This is also a time when television as a public service was an idea that still had merit amongst those in power.
Would that it were!
That' s what I was seeing as a child.Never imagined the state of decay in witch we are.
Forget it. Todays young children are so stupid due to video games, Twitter, Facebook and the crap in the movies and on TV.
Children aren't stupid
It is very hard to add to the wonderful comments made about this video. One thing I could say is that when I am lost in my despair and disgust over humanity then I see something like this I am amazed at the wondrousness of certain humans and of the mystery of it all. So it is back and forth.
Glenn Gould was a phenomenon. He isn't playing the music, he IS the music -- Johann Sebastian Gould. There's a part where the right hand is playing alone, and Gould is directing it with his left hand. And then at the end, his left hand slashes, Stop! He once said that his vocalizing was filling the gap between the piano and the music. You can see his face, urging the music out of the instrument: "Come on, come on!" Awesome!
i'm surprised there aren't more comments than just yours referencing his left hand conducting his right! one of my favorite parts of the video
I loved Bernstein's set-up. It really makes you appreciate the challenge and Gould's quite wonderful interpretation.
At 12:03 I strated to cry. Everything in that moment is perfect. This is probably one of the most beautiful thing in the music history. God bless Bach.
Truly the greatest thing I've ever seen
Bach rising to the level of beethoven the gods of music coming down to earth to posses them in a moment
@@ahmedgilani8646 Bach is more great
I feel you.
Wow. Me too
I love his unorthodox playing style, hunched over the piano with his hands almost hanging off the keyboard, sitting on a chair instead of a piano bench.
You should read about his chair
Whether you love it or not, it led to his inability to play well for more than short periods of time later in his career. He sounded fantastic in spite of his posture and not because of it.
Usually either the piano or the orchestra dominates and covers the other to the point of distraction. This is the most exquisitely coordinated piano concerto I've ever heard, and Gould is, like Wanda Landowski, one who draws everything possible out of Bach, the musicality, the emotion, the sublime fact that music comes from and enriches the soul of man.
ThePapasmurf1946 0
לא קיבלתי חינוך מוסיקלי. אני בכלל לא מבין גדול במוסיקה. אני לא בקי בים היצירות של בך. האזנתי לביצוע הגאוני הזה והתפעלתי. הפסנתרן, התזמורת ומנצחה נתנו ביצוע מופתי של היצירה. אני בטוח שיוהאן סבסטיאן שם למעלה מחא כפיים בהתלהבות. צר לי לציין שהיצירה עצמה איננה מן המיטב של בך. כשכותבים פיסקה מוסיקלית בת 8 משפטים שמהם 7 הראשונים זהים זה לזה ובאים זה אחר זה, ובכן... ריח של חדגוניות. בך ידע להפתיע ולגוון. האם ההפתעה כאן היא: "הביטו! גם אני יודע לשעמם!"?
Gould is literally tasting the notes. Toying with them, playing with them, smelling them! He is utterly living the music.
I saw a clip of this yesterday on the news and I was captivated watching Glenn Gould play. I am glad it is here. You are so right! He is just so incredible!
He's figuratively tasting the notes. He's literally playing them with his fingers
Licking the keys, sniffing them too!
But I know exactly what you are trying to say - Gould almost melds into his piano, becomes part of it. What he must feel - most off us will never appreciate.
He's playing wit his fingers, and his feet. And his shoulders, and his jaw, and his eyebrows...
@@DoctorDewgong Thanks. I'm totally bored with the profligate misuse of "literally."
Absolutely unbelievable. Glenn Gould was a savant. His musicianship was literally from another planet. Thanks so much for uploading this video.
quel phrasé sublime !!quel calme intérieur , quelle clarté et quelle intensité néanmoins !..............quand bien des pianistes seront oubliés on écoutera encore longtemps GOULD sacré Glenn!!!
i can't believe what i just witnessed. that was the most heart-throbbing, melancholic, powerful, sad.... i'm at loss for words.
Like going back in time the young Glenn Gould just wonderful to watch and listen to these two greats
This is quite possibly the most elegant, beautiful, enigmatic portrayal of the magic of music’s hidden mathematics and soul-wrenching BAM that I think I’ve ever heard. Leonard Bernstein and Glenn Goold... wow
This one can be watched over and over..
It amazes me that tv-shows of this quality ever was made.
Exactly, Ive watched this performance around 100 times. I believe someday I will get to 1000 times.
Im 72
This was the best time in history to be alive. I treasure every day 🖖
Bach, Bernstein and Gould at the same time in the same place... I couldn't ask for more. Thank you for sharing the divine gem like this one. The Paradise would sound like this...
This is an absolutely mesmerizing and captivating performance by Glenn Gould, by Leonard Bernstein, and by the New York Philharmonic Orchestra. Like Bach himself, they also have passed on; their inimitable renditions, however, have fortunately been assiduously recorded and preserved, and they are now part of our cultural heritage. Thanks to UA-cam, and enthusiasts like AntPDC and erp65, musical treasures like this great keyboard concerto, can now be enjoyed by millions of listeners in their own homes. Leonard Bernstein was a very influential musician (composer, conductor, pianist) with an unusually extensive cultural frame of reference. In his televised lectures, he drew on this knowledge not only of music with its many subcategories, but of history, linguistics, world literature, etc., which made his lectures thrilling, unique, and memorable. The combination Bernstein, Gould plus composer X, always makes for an exciting performance! Many thanks to all!
10:24 Each of Gould's fingers has its own genius brain. His left arm and hand start directing the right hand. Each part is super-human, and they are all together, connected, with the music pouring through them. Gould is a gift from God for poor humanity. It is all so brilliant and beyond comprehension, there is a tendency to minimize it as mechanical. But that is wrong. His playing and artistry are at the highest level of humanity. Inspiring. Nice to be sharing this with all here.
How does he do it
Who could not be carried away listening to Glenn Gould playing anything by Bach? It's readily apparent Gould, himself, was carried away by the beauty of it all whenever he played. One gets the rare and delightful feeling obtained when a master craftsman like Gould plays a composition written by a genius like Bach. The world misses them both.
Simply one of the most sublime performances I've ever seen and heard. Maestro Bernstein's wonderful opening introduction and conducting, an orchestra performing at top peak, and the irreplaceable Glenn Gould in communication with the spirit of divine music, giving his all as always. Thank you so much for sharing this video!
It’s captivating from the first note to the last. The guy is possessed. It’s mechanical but not mechanical, intellectual but so emotional, raw and refined altogether, all at the right places. They can’t teach you how to play like this. Totally unique. Exceptional rendition. Stark beauty.
I thinks that may be the greatest performance I’ve ever seen in my life.
Watch Gould play Beethoven's Emperor Concerto #5 on youtube. The performance will blow your mind.
What I found is the older you get, the more you miss Gould and Bernstein.
I didn't appreciate Bach's music enough until I started hearing Glenn Gould playing it. For me, Gould brought Bach's music to life and gave it soul.
It already had soul and heart, Glenn just made it more recognizable for you
@@PhotonAvogadro So true
What Gould does here is the exact reason i love music. His expression of self through this piece and others is what makes him eternally and unequivocally unique. People like this wont be forgotten.
Gould reminds me of a snake charmer, coaxing and mesmerising the notes from the piano.
It is a privilege to be able to watch this. The sad realisation, though, is that too few would have the capacity to concentrate, appreciate or even understand what is happening here.
At 65 years of age, I fear mankind has already peaked and we are on the downward slope with reality TV, rap music and all manner of unutterable celebrity garbage.
This video is a jewel.
The powers that be, the globalists, activly promote the degeneracy and the destruction of western civilization. They are the enemy!
If it’s any consolation, I’m a quarter of your age, and though I do enjoy rap, and other genres, I’m still here appreciating entrancing performances like this. The art of creation, and brilliance in doing so (whether it be music, film, visual art, etc) is something that won’t ever be lost so long as young people continue to find appreciation for it and keep it in circulation. Will brilliant art fall out of the mainstream? Likely so. But it won’t ever truly disappear.
Rap music slaps and so does this.
1. Magnifient class of Bernstein about what interpretation is.
2. Supreme Gould (as always) with Bach.
3. Best camera shots of a piano performance ever.
4. Best UA-cam video I've watched (TV broadcast!!!).
5. Last not least: This last Bach reincarnation in Gould has put it difficult to God to launch future reincarnations.
Nothing is difficult to God ☀️
Gosh I sooooooo love them…. Aren’t we lucky to have this on you tube 🧡🧡🧡🧡
I like Gleen Gould as a piano player and character.
His Bach interpretation is out of this world.
Bernstein and Gould working together giving freedom to each other and this results in an amazing performance for piano and orchestra.
Certainly the best ever live interpretation of this masterpiece of J.S. Bach !
I just have emotional tears each time I hear this.
Mr Gould was a genius.
It’s obvious that Glen is beyond this world’s limited dimension. When he plays, he seems to be lifted up into another dimension and he takes us to this higher level with him and Bach. That is why you cannot describe his playing and the experience, in words.
My favorite pianist of all time, hands down. I love your comment and wholeheartedly agree with you.
Starbucks....venti americano
To be fair he was on the most powerful medication 60’s psychiatrist had to offer, from painkillers to antidepressants to anxiolytics. Love his skill and interpretations but man was he flying high
It's called autism
I think that started later.
Spellbinding, what a genius, the musicality, sublime, the last 2 minutes of the video, Gould’s genius really comes to shine, wow
This is one of the coolest things I have ever seen.
totally agree yeah
Cool is not the word to use here.
@@vima8680 why not? it's totally cool
Gould appears to be in a state of ecstasy!
Que bien se lo pasa el tío! Orgasmo espiritual...
Three geniuses, Bernstein, Bach and Gould.
Magically beautiful and emotional interpretation. People sometimes joke that Bach was such a genius that he must have been from another galaxy. You can probably say the same for Glenn Gould.
Glenn Gould playing Bach is a revelation and although this was recorded 57 years ago it is as fresh and immediate as if was recorded today. What musicians !!
Elsa Barnard one day i wish to own a steinway. No fancy cars for me.
That's what a "classic" is...it never grows old! And it NEVER dies!
) really that is right but not enough warm as I like
Elsa Barnard Brovo !
Model B, baby Steinway. $81,000.00
This is one of my favorite videos of all time
whatever face Glenn Gould made while playing, I never think he was pretentious. He was a genuine artist.
Forever my favorite pianist. Gould was created to play Bach. ❤️
what an absolutely mesmerising piece of film.
I cannot ever forget this amazing performance. I think Glen Gould is channelling Bach.. Just the best.
This is just wonderful. Look at his fingers play - his gesture and connection to the music. I think his pinkie finger must be the length of most men's middle finger. Bernstein presenting in his white tie and eloquent mid Atlantic voice to boot. This is a truly beautiful piece of footage. I love, love, love it!
glenn appears to have the piano wired directly into his brain. hes feeling and hearing every note in realtime. hes a virtual machine its fascinating to watch. hes a very rare talent.
He is mesmerizing to watch. His delivery of the classics has the power of raw blues music. I can feel his passion through the music.
So true. I feel honoured to have known a woman, a pianist, artist, friend and ex neighbour, who had known Glenn Gould in her youth and has/d love letters he wrote to her after a holiday in Canada. I have two her abstract paintings she gave to me as a gift and it's a wonderful link back to Glenn himself and this performance!
He is the best ever pianist
I highly recommend the film, 32 Short Films About Glenn Gould. Shows and teaches so much about this genius.
This is, to me, the definitive performance, and in my 70+ years, I have heard countless others.
I love watching Gould sing along. Beautiful interpretation.
One can imagine Bach hearing (watching) this and saying, "Why, that's not at all what I intended. Well done!!!"
I saw Gould perform this concerto some time in the 1960s in Columbus, Ohio. After all these years I can't remember whether it was with a touring orchestra (Pittsburgh, Chicago, Cleveland, others frequently came through) or with the Columbus Symphony under Evan Whallon. But I absolutely remember the performance itself - even more electrifying in person than this stunning video. I also remember his unusual foibles: his humming, which is well-known, but also that above the keyboard he had several large pieces of cardboard formed into a sort of booklet, on whose leaves were pasted cut-out pages from a miniature score.
Two of the 20th century's greatest musical minds brought together by the immortal Bach -- what an epic clip!
Such a beautiful piece! I have listened to it a thousand times, and it gets better every time. Thank you Bach, Gould and Bernstein!
Gould is probably arguing with Bach right now about the correct way to play his music.
Концерт века, однозначно. Шедевр. 🔥 Низкий поклон всем музыкантам! Слава оператору, близко заснявшему волшебные пальчики Гленнушки, рождение чуда.. Благодарю, благодарю! ❤
Nobody will EVER surpass these performances. Gould is the ultimate interpreter of Bach. And Bach is the ultimate, supreme composer. These recordings may be old, but they will last forever.
Couldn’t agree more!
Andras Schiff?
@@yashbspianoandcompositions1042 Schiff is nothing compared to Gould
@@Billy-dj8zw Richter?
@@yashbspianoandcompositions1042 No, RIchter does not stand a chance
This is why I love UA-cam
yes, I would have never otherwise been exposed to such.
You said it Steve! I feel like a MULTI MILLIONAIRE with youtube!! ☺😊🎼🎹🎶🎵
Yes sir
Simply put. Yet an extraordinary exponentially display of musical genius. Ty you so much for sharing!!
For every beautiful work of art like this, there are probably ten thousand "how to put on makeup" videos.
Stephen Ritson but get them comment appearing sign?
This on network television back in the day. Oh how the times have changed.
12:25 Absolutely stunning unbelievable decrescendo . Amazing!
damn
Yes, indeed I never heard this. Daring.
absolutely incredible...the amount of inherit skill and dexterity you need to accomplish playing like that is something mystical
There is a manic, obsessive energy in Gould's performance. This is a definitive recording. Nobody will ever surpass this.
What the hell? Ads in the middle of a moving performance?! Rude and jarring stab in the back. Magnificent passionate pianist with excellent interpretation. Such beautiful hands. Flowing like a stream over smooth pebbles, creating whirlpools ands eddies.
Adblock Plus is your friend - and it's free!
Totally awesome. Gould was the greatest pianist of the 20th century. And probably the 21st as well.
Television used to serve higher purpose. Can you imagine something like this being broadcast in prime time today?
Listening to Bernstein discuss the situation is a true joy; the music itself is so astounding it's difficult to find a word to say how I feel.
Of all the Gould vids, this one in particular, is a masterpiece! Gould/Bernstein/Bach PLUS spot on camera work make this vid rise to the top. A treasure!
The absolute best performance of the concerto. Gould was without a doubt the best interpreter of Bach. I love most everything he played.
BACH was truly the G.O.A.T. Bach, Bernstein and Gould will never happen again in history!
This video brings me joy each day! I literally watch it at least once a day as a form of meditation. I am so grateful that the editors focus almost entirely on the great Gould’s hands! What a gift to anyone that plays piano at any level. And to any of the critics that hate his “vocal” interference.... I love it! It used to annoy me 40+ years ago when I heard it on a tape of Goldberg variations and couldn’t figure out what the noise was, but I now love ❤️ it and am aggravated when it is edited out of his recordings. He had a beautiful voice and was encouraged by his mother to do this as an aid to his practicing. Thanks Utube for this recording!
Yes! A daily meditation, a touch of transcendence to begin each day. Perfection made human.
@ Yes...in a weird way!
I agree. My sister played piano well enough as a child to win awards. She disrespected Gould's humming, and this kind of poisoned my mind towrds his playing. Eventually a few years back I saw videos of Gould and found I loved his vocalizing. Ha ha. Give it up, critics. He is the genius pianist of all time.
Sublime, beautiful, and extraordinary. Food and drink for the soul.
This was way before I was born, but boy was this meaningful TV content! People had an attention span longer than 10 seconds.
musical in my ear; beautiful in my heart. Love it. Thank you Glenn.
Bernstein was such a fantastic teacher. He had a way with words. Glenn Gould, obviously the best…
you hear the word captivating thrown around a lot, but when he started that two fingered playing, I was absolutely held captive to my screen...amazing. and what an informative intro by Lenny
His hands are just perfection