Retrospective at Ottawa museum opens year of Glenn Gould tributes

21.09.2007 18:00 Arts - Source: cbc.ca

The Canadian Museum of Civilization in Ottawa opens an exhibition devoted to the late Canadian pianist Glenn Gould this weekend that includes his beloved piano and a collection of sound recordings.

Montreal-born Marika Bournaki will perform on Gould's own Steinway at the Saturday opening of Glenn Gould: The Sounds of Genius.

"I am extremely touched to be invited to play the piano of such a renowned virtuoso, someone I have admired deeply and who has always fascinated me," said Bournaki, 16, a gifted player who is part of a new generation of pianists.

The exhibit is part of the events marking the 25th anniversary of pianist Glenn Gould's death on Oct. 4 and the 75th anniversary of his birth on Sept. 25.

The Glenn Gould Foundation, which preserves the great Canadian pianist's legacy, has declared the Year of Glenn Gould from September 2007 to September 2008.

The Museum of Civilization exhibit will include Gould's sound documents, video extracts of interviews and performances, radio programs and artifacts such as letters and manuscripts from Library and Archives Canada.

In conjunction with the exhibition's opening, the Glenn Gould Foundation will hold a conference in Ottawa, the 3rd Glenn Gould Gathering, Ahead of Our Time?, from Sept. 27-30.

Events around the world

Gould, who died in 1982, was a brilliant and innovative artist with an international following and events marking the anniversaries are being held worldwide.

In Berlin, a major film retrospective is planned Oct. 3-8 featuring screenings ranging from Gould's early TV presentations to the later documentaries.

In New York, the Mostly Mozart Festival includes a screening of the classic 32 Short Films about Glenn Gould.

On Sept. 25, Sony Classical released The Glenn Gould Complete Jacket Collection, an 80-disc boxed set commemorating Gould's recording legacy since 1955.

In Calgary, Honens scheduled a concert on Gould's birthday with Minsoo Sohn, and has two more Gould tribute concerts scheduled for Oct. 25 and Nov. 7.

An Evening with Glenn Gould, a multimedia event created by filmmaker John McGreevy, is playing at Ottawa's National Arts Centre.

Glenn Gould Prize

In February 2008, the Glenn Gould Foundation will announce the winners of the $50,000 Glenn Gould Prize, awarded every three years, and the City of Toronto Glenn Gould Proteg Prize.

In September 2008 both the Glenn Gould Prize laureate and the protege he or she has chosen will give a gala concert.

CBC Radio Two is celebrating Gould's life and legacy with a 10-day radio festival currently airing on Canada Live.

The festival includes:

• Friday: Music of Byrd, Schoenberg and Bach performed by Scottish born guitarist Paul Galbraith and the Don Thompson quartet performing jazz transcriptions of Bach.
• Saturday: a performance of the Idea of North, performed in Ottawa, a collection of newly commissioned songs based on Canadian songwriters' reaction to, and re-interpretation of, Gould's meditation on Northern Canada and its people.
• Sunday: Goldberg Variations, performed in Calgary by pianist Sohn and African Goldberg Variations, performed in Toronto by musician Waleed Abdulhamid.

The CBC Radio Two festival continues to Oct. 4, the 25th anniversary of Gould's death.

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