The Gould Standard

By: The Glenn Gould Foundation
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  • Summary

  • A conversational podcast about the arts, culture, and contemporary society. We talk with artistic heroes working to create a more inclusive and mindful world, hear their incredible stories, and get to know what makes them tick. Our featured guests are leaders in a wide range of fields, nationalities, and lived experience, including musical composers and performers, painters, poets, filmmakers, actors, dancers, broadcasters, and more.
    © 2023 Glenn Gould Foundation
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Art Entertainment & Performing Arts History Music Social Sciences
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Episodes
  • Afghanistan’s Ahmad Sarmast: Keeping Music Alive

    Afghanistan’s Ahmad Sarmast: Keeping Music Alive
    Oct 24 2024
    Dr. Ahmad Sarmast, founder of the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM), Afghanistan’s first modern music academy, established in 2010 to preserve the beautiful musical heritage of his country after years of rule under the Taliban had attempted to ban and eradicate all musical culture. Bringing together a diverse student body that included young women and children from the most disadvantaged rung of society, ANIM was founded both to teach music and promote human advancement and social justice. Dr. Sarmast, a true musical hero, shares his powerful journey in this episode of The Gould Standard. We dive into the origins of ANIM, his experiences in Afghanistan, and the institute’s saga of escape and survival as it continues its mission following the Taliban's return to power in 2021. Dr. Sarmast reflects on Afghanistan's rich musical heritage and its role in uniting a nation torn apart by ethnic, civil, and religious strife. Dr. Sarmast’s dedication to the music and people of Afghanistan comes into dramatic focus as he recounts the personal threats he faced, including surviving a Taliban-orchestrated suicide bombing at a performance. Despite the dangers, Dr. Sarmast remained resolute in his mission to use music as a tool for education and healing. Dr Sarmast’s inspiring love for music with its power to heal and unify, shines when discussing the work of his students, faculty and the pride that he has seen them bring to the people of Afghanistan as a beacon of hope and freedom in dark times.
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    1 hr and 43 mins
  • Stephen Fry - Between (And Beneath) the Covers

    Stephen Fry - Between (And Beneath) the Covers
    Sep 19 2024
    The inimitable Stephen Fry joins us for a warm and witty conversation, sharing stories from his rich and varied career, as a writer, actor, director, TV host, memoirist and all around polymath. Stephen talks about his latest acting projects with his signature charm, giving listeners a peek behind the curtain of his work in television and film. Fry also reflects on his adventures filming documentaries and traveling across America, offering humorous and heartfelt insights into the people and cultures he encountered along the way. As the conversation turns to his writing, Fry opens up about his deep love for classical myths, explaining why these ancient stories still captivate him—and why they continue to speak to us today. He also shares his thoughtful views on religion, exploring the connections between mythology and belief with the kind of sharp intellect and humor that have won him renown the world over. Whether discussing his work, travels, or philosophical musings, Fry’s passion and warmth make this episode an engaging and entertaining listen.
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    1 hr and 19 mins
  • When Glenn Met Tim: A Landmark Conversation Revisited - Part II

    When Glenn Met Tim: A Landmark Conversation Revisited - Part II
    Jul 25 2024
    For your *continued* pleasure: a second, special bonus episode. The response of our audience has been overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the world premiere of the private, recorded conversation between Tim Page and Glenn Gould. They wanted to learn more about this unique audio document, and we’re happy to oblige. In this special program, Tim Page reflects on his spontaneous phone conversation with Glenn, and contrasts it with a later scripted interview for the 1982 Goldberg Variations recording, and recounts personal anecdotes, including a private piano performance by Gould. The episode also highlights Gould's appreciation for in-depth conversations free from clichéd questions and his humour, expressed through his fictitious alter egos, Theodore Slutz, Nigel Twitt-Thornwaite and Karlheinz Klopweisser. The discussion encompasses Gould's enormous influence on restoring the reputations composers like Strauss and Sibelius.
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    45 mins

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