Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould

Nearly three decades after his death, Canadian pianist Glenn Gould (1932–1982) remains a musical icon, a legendarily odd man whose technique was unparalleled, while his recordings of Bach were revelatory. Capturing both his brilliance and his eccentricity, filmmakers Michèle Hozer and Peter Raymont's documentary profile covers all of the standard subjects—Gould's childhood and early training, debut recording of the Goldberg Variations, tour of the Soviet Union that made him a celebrity, renunciation of public performance, notorious contretemps with Leonard Bernstein, and his hypochondria, weird attire, and unusual demeanor at the keyboard (including humming as he played). Featuring a wealth of archival footage (interviews with Gould, friends, and associates; archival clips and stills from TV programs, rehearsals, recording sessions, and concerts) and occasional dramatic re-creations, Genius Within adds new details about Gould's private life--most notably his relationships with women—including his romance with artist Cornelia Foss, estranged wife of composer Lukas Foss, who separated from her husband and moved in with Gould along with her two children. Offering a fascinating look at a unique artist, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include deleted scenes and additional interviews (20 min.) and trailers. Bottom line: a decent extras package for a winning documentary profile.] (F. Swietek)