Lang understood the request: Eschenbach and Mehta wanted to echo the historic link with Watts, who had replaced Gould the signature performer of theGoldbergVariations.
For the 70th anniversary of Gould s birth, Sony Classical released both recordings of the"Goldberg Variations" - along with critic Tim Page's interview with Gould weeks before his death.
At the time of Gould's American debut in January 1955, the"Goldberg Variations" were mainly known to musicologists. (Gould too was unknown to American audiences.) But the 22-year-old Canadian pianist s performance was so energetic and captivating that he became a classical music superstar.
To be honest, the first ten minutes of Bach's GoldbergVariations were pleasant enough, but the notion that music can equal relaxation is a bit of a no-brainer.
Perhaps it is fitting, then, that Mr. Tepfer recorded his GoldbergVariations, his exploration of "the intersection between what we are today and the great art from long ago, " at night.