Glenn Gould

Pianist Glenn Gould was famous for his eccentricities, and that includes his musical tastes. He had an especial liking for the piano music of Richard Strauss. For many people, Strauss’ piano music would seem to be one of the least of his great accomplishments. But not to Gould. On Classics of the Phonograph, Saturday at 11 am on WILL-FM, we will hear some of Gould’s Strauss recordings.

 

Playlist:

R. Strauss | Songs of Ophelia, from Shakespear’s “Hamlet.”

Gould accompanies Elizabeth Schwarzkopf at the piano (while improvising altered accompaniments!).

R. Strauss | Monodrama of Tennyson’s poem “Enoch Arden.”

Gould plays the accompaniment to Claud Rains’s recitation.

R. Strauss | Piano Sonata in B Minor, Op. 5 (This was Gould’s last recording, in 1982.)