"Le Naufragé" de Thomas Bernhard
Summary
This France Culture episode presents Thomas Bernhard’s text *The Naufragé*, performed by Jacques Gamblin and Anthony Capelli. The narrative explores the obsessive memories of a narrator regarding his friend, pianist Glenn Gould, and their mutual acquaintance Wertheimer. It delves into themes of artistic genius, isolation, and the destructive nature of perfectionism, contrasting Gould’s reclusive brilliance with Wertheimer’s tragic descent into madness and suicide.
Topics discussed
Introduction: The death of Glenn Gould and the narrator's connection
Intensive study sessions with Gould and Horowitz in Salzburg
Reflections on virtuosity and the narrator's self-assessment
The 'Mountain of Suicide' and the spiritual friendship with Wertheimer
Gould's hatred of public performance and retreat into isolation
Gould's reclusion in America and the concept of self-discipline
Wertheimer's sacrifice of his career and retreat to Trèche
The narrator as the sole survivor of the trio
Feelings of guilt and the macabre nature of the narrator's actions
Wertheimer's suicide and the narrator's delayed response
The failed essay on Gould and the destruction of drafts
Gould's immortal interpretation of the Goldberg Variations
Anecdotes from the Nazi sculptor's house and Gould's physicality
The myth of Glenn Gould versus the reality of his laughter and rage
The desire to become the instrument: Glenn as Steinway
Wertheimer's funeral and the absence of flowers
Trèche as a cul-de-sac and the contrast between Gould and Wertheimer
Wertheimer's erratic behavior and return to the piano
The disordered piano and the burning of papers at Trèche
Conclusion: Publication details and upcoming lecture
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