Bravo Fortissimo Glenn Gould is a definitive psychobiography of the internationally renowned piano virtuoso Glenn Gould, the most famous Canadian classical musician of all time and named among the top twenty-five most influential Canadians ever. It has been said that Leonard Bernstein and Glenn Gould are the two most publicized art music figures of our time in North America. Gould was one of those fortunate individuals who was endowed with music both from within and without. Gouldian charisma had a magic power over audiences by "seducing" them into his private world of music and into his unique ways of experiencing the beauty of it. This comes to full expression in his interpretations of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. Never before was a music piece so celebrated and powerfully delivered single-handedly to wide public audiences as Bach's Goldberg Variations by Glenn Gould. The main goal of this work is to solve the enigma of Gould's eccentric behavior, his intricate personality and his music genius; to do away with controversies and to explore the impact of his music artistry on world culture. Glenn Gould's family members, many of them no longer living, are cited as primary sources of information regarding Gould's formative years in this historical work that took fifteen years of research and writing to complete. The end result is a book that is entirely accessible for Gould's music fans; for students of music, psychology and history; and for all those interested in the creative process. --- from the publisher About the Author: Dr. Helen Mesaros is a psychiatrist and the clinical director of CAT outpatient program at the Toronto East General Hospital. In her practice, Dr. Mesaros likes the challenge of alleviating emotional distress of her patients by using a combination of pharmaceuticals and psychotherapy. She has many passions -- she loves spending quality time with her grandchildren, she enjoys music and poetry, and is a true movie buff. Swimming and traveling are among her favorite activities. Dr. Mesaros contributed articles to The Medical Post about Glenn Gould and David Helfgott, portrayed in the film Shine. This book is a labor of love and sums up everything the author stands for -- hard work, empathy and a very positive outlook. Dr. Mesaros lives in Toronto, Canada |