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

Released in 1973 by CBS/Sony, this compilation is part of a series documenting the idiosyncratic interpretations of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s piano sonatas by the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould. Gould’s approach to Mozart was famously controversial, characterized by his deliberate, often starkly detached, and rhythmically precise playing style which frequently departed from the romanticized performance traditions of the era.

The design and curation of this release reflect the era's transition toward global distribution of Western classical music through high-fidelity LPs. Gould’s artistic choices in these recordings were driven by his belief that Mozart’s earlier sonatas were best served by a lean, analytical, and anti-sentimental performance aesthetic. While these interpretations were met with significant critical polarization at the time of their release, they have since become essential study material for understanding Gould’s evolution as a recording artist.