KCMETROPOLIS.org
Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

His was a complicated life. Those who knew Glenn Gould and those who have studied his life refer to him as one of the most important artists and pianists of the 20th century. Some regard him as the James Dean of the classical music world, and despite being called a nut with few friends, women were attracted to his mind, hubris, and looks. This is all just the tip of the iceberg in the new documentary Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould.

Born in Toronto, Canada, Gould (1932–1982) was able to read music before he could read words. Although his various recordings included such composers as Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, and Haydn, the one he is most identified with is Bach. In fact, the four-time Grammy Award winner’s first recording was Bach: The Goldberg Variations, which he completed in 1955 at Columbia Records’ 30th Street Studio in New York City.

Through interviews with friends, producers, biographers, ex-lovers, and Gould himself, we are able to get a keen insight into his life from its beginning to end. While his first album and first overseas concert tour in the Soviet Union in 1957 propelled him to international stardom, Gould never liked the spotlight. He loathed it. He had a reputation for cancelling concerts at the last minute and in 1964, at age 31, he quit public concerts altogether.

Even though Gould continued studio recording and producing projects for the Canadian Broadcast Corporation, his eccentricities remained. For example, he had to sit exactly 14 inches above the floor while playing and would only sit on the adjustable chair his father had made for him. Gould wore a trench coat, scarf, and gloves year-round, and he was a hypochondriac. In later years, he tracked his blood pressure and heart rate meticulously on a near-hourly basis.

Genius Within also addresses the rumors that Gould was either homosexual or not sexual at all, by examining the four-year love affair he led with the candid Cornelia Foss, wife of composer Lukas Foss, from 1968 to 1972.

Directors Michele Hozer and Peter Raymont have created a masterpiece of documentary filmmaking, one that stands out in the category of purely biographical films. It flows as easily across Gould’s fascinating life as his fingers flowed effortlessly across the keyboard. The interviews are all insightful, and it doesn’t take much to be transfixed by Gould’s tremendous skills on the piano. It would not be surprising if CD sales of his work have risen this year.

The one quibble is that those not familiar with the classical world may get a little lost by all the references to conductors and composers who are not named Bernstein or Mozart. However, Genius Within can in this way be looked upon as a potentially great learning experience.

Validation for Genius Within’s greatness came last month when the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced the 15 films still in consideration to qualify for the Best Documentary Feature category: Genius Within made the cut and will advance to the voting process.

On a letter grade scale from “A” being excellent to “F” for failing, Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould receives an A.

Genius Within: The Inner Life of Glenn Gould is unrated and has a running time of 98 minutes.

Now showing through December 9 @ Tivoli Cinemas
Westport Manor Square, 4050 Pennsylvania, KCMO
Visit http://www.tivolikc.com or call 913-383-7756 for more information.

Top photo: Glenn Gould at his debut recording of Bach's Goldberg Variations. Columbia Records, New York City, 1955 Photo credit: Courtesy of Sony Music Entertainment.

By Michael D. Smith

Indie Film Editor

Michael D. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts in history at College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri followed by a Master of Arts in history at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.

Inspired by such critics as Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, Michael started reviewing films in 1992 for College of the Ozarks's student-run newspaper. After returning to the Kansas City area in 1994, he continued film reviewing by writing for the Cass County Democrat Missourian in Harrisonville.

In 2000 Michael joined Sun Publications in Overland Park, Kansas where he served as its film critic and Arts and Entertainment Editor. During his tenure there, he was also the film critic for the "Fine Arts Radio Hour" and "Celebrity Scoop" radio shows on KXTR. After leaving the Sun in late 2002, he became the A&E writer for the Olathe News in Olathe, Kansas. He also worked as a freelance writer for The Squire in Leawood, Showcase Publishing in Lake Ozark, Missouri and the Kansas City Star.

Michael is currently a member of the Kansas City Film Critics Circle, a professional film critic organization established in 1966 by the late Dr. James Loutzenhiser.

More Featured Articles