Glenn Gould (1932–1982) was a Canadian pianist widely regarded as one of the most original musicians of the 20th century, celebrated above all for his radical reinterpretation of Bach’s keyboard works. He rose to international fame in 1955 with his recording of the Goldberg Variations, a fast, crisp interpretation that broke sharply with Romantic tradition and became a bestselling classical album. In 1964, at just 31, Gould abandoned live performance entirely, arguing that studio recording offered greater precision and control than the concert stage. He devoted the rest of his career to recordings, broadcasts, and writing, extending his repertoire to Beethoven, Brahms, and Schoenberg while famously dismissing much of the standard Romantic canon. Known for his eccentric habits, low seated posture, and audible humming while playing, Gould remains one of classical music’s most singular and influential interpreters.