Sonatas No.2, K.280 / No.8, K.310 / No.9, K.311 / No.11, K.331 / Fantasy In D Minor, K.397

This 1978 release, catalog number 23AC 649, is part of a series of Mozart recordings by the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould for CBS Masterworks. Gould, known for his eccentric and often controversial interpretive style, recorded these works during a period when he was deeply engaged in re-evaluating the standard classical repertoire. His approach to Mozart often eschewed traditional Romantic sentimentality in favor of a crisp, detached, and highly contrapuntal texture that highlighted the structural complexities of the sonatas.

The album reflects the design aesthetic of the late-seventies CBS/Sony collaboration, characterized by minimalist packaging and clear, studio-centric presentation intended to suit the discerning audiophile. At the time of its release, Gould's Mozart recordings were polarized; while some critics found his tempos and idiosyncratic phrasing provocative and revelatory, others felt they lacked the expected warmth of the composer's style. Despite the critical debate, these recordings remain a touchstone for understanding Gould's rigorous intellectual approach to the keyboard literature.