On Tuesday, >We talk about the '55 and '81 "Goldberg"
performances. >But ' What You think about the ''59 and ' 81 "Italian Concerto"?' >My personal feeling is that Gould in the '81 performance
has a different approach about the "Andante". >He's contemplative, extremely slowly, and the score
seemed at "x ray". The term “X-Ray” seems spot on with regards to
the ’81 version.? I generally enjoy
GG’s later performances ( I really
_do_ like the later
Goldbergs!)? but
his late Italian Concerto seems much too analytical,
too forced, and lacks the spontaneity that the earlier version exudes. Listen to the ’59 Third Movement (Presto) and
you’ll get see why it ranks among my top five Gould performances. (Does
anyone else see the humor in that movement??
I am not able to listen to it all
the way through without laughing!) Dominic |