Glenn Gould - Michael Stegmann: The Glenn Gould Trilogy, A Life (2007) [SACD]

A joint venture between Sony Classical and WDR, Michael Stegemann's The Glenn Gould Trilogy: A Life is something truly different and noteworthy. The three-disc set beautifully melds excerpts of Gould's performances, spoken interviews, narrated text, and personal correspondence into a surprisingly coherent whole. Listeners who find it annoying to try to listen to music while someone is talking over it should still give this trilogy a try. It is not entirely about the music being performed, nor is it centered exclusively on the text, dialogue, or narration. Rather, it uses all of these elements brought together from across Gould's career to create a vivid depiction of the personal and professional sides of this historically fascinating and eccentric artist. The only thing that could improve on this collection would be if, instead of being produced on a well-mastered SACD, it were offered on a DVD, incorporating a visual layer of stimulation and interaction. Still, fans of Gould and music history buffs (both amateur and professional) should absolutely treat themselves to this comprehensive guide to his life, presented in a most unique and enjoyable fashion.