Sony Classical is proud to present the release of Glenn Gould’s “The Goldberg Variations - The Complete Unreleased 1981 Studio Sessions” to commemorate the icon’s 90th birthday and the 40th anniversary of his legendary re-recording of Bach’s masterpiece for the keyboard.

Forty years ago, on 2 September 1982 – the year of Michael Jackson’s Thriller and Steven Spielberg’s E.T. – Glenn Gould’s legendary second recording of the Goldberg Variations closed a circle that his revolutionary 1956 recording of Bach’s masterpiece had opened. While his first recording is the exuberant, fast-paced work of a 22-year-old pianistic prodigy, his second is the measured, richly detailed interpretation of an experienced studio artist. Just five weeks later, the Canadian pianist died unexpectedly, leaving the world a masterpiece of recording art that – awarded two GRAMMYs – is still one of the most listened to classical albums worldwide.

Across 11 CDs, the set includes the double GRAMMY-winning final release as well as everything committed to tape during the 1981 sessions, restored from the original ¼-inch analogue tapes and mastered using 24 bit / 96 kHz technology. As well as the takes themselves, the session recordings include Gould and the producers’ conversations, all of which are transcribed in a 216-page hard-cover coffee-table book which also contains an annotated score, extensive documentation and facsimiles as well as illuminating articles about the recording process – including the recollections of Richard Einhorn, one of the producers who worked with Gould on the recording.

With over 8 hours of previously unreleased music and talks, the listener gets an insight into the making of one of the best-selling classical albums in the world. When Glenn Gould recorded his first version of the Goldberg Variations in 1955, it was at a time when analogue tape material was comparatively expensive, and so the recording focused mainly on individual takes. It was completely different in 1981: the digital recording process had only just been introduced, and so in addition to the digital recording devices, a set of analogue tape machines also ran at the same time, which generously documented Gould's working process.

For the first time, the listener can accompany the great Gould on his journey to the final version of his Goldberg Variations, to take part in Gould's discussions and reflections and thus to experience the creation of a masterpiece in the studio up close.