Glenn Gould as Karlheinz Klopweisser (left) and as Sir Nigel Twitt-Thornwaite (right), 1980 -by Robert C. Ragsdale   [+]

Gould loved hamming and enjoyed assuming the parts of a fictitious “dean of British conductors”, Sir Nigel Twitt-Thornwaite; a German critic, Dr. Herbert von Hochmeister; and a New York cab driver, Theodore Slutz of Brooklyn Heights. Other alter egos were Dr. Karlheinz Klopweisser, a German composer and critic; Sir Humphrey Price-Davies, a “BBC-type pedagogue”; Duncan Haig-Guinness, a Canadian radio producer; and two psychiatrists, S.F. Lemming, M.D., and Wolfgang von Krankmeister. Gould enjoyed these creations, making tapes for which he spoke “in character”, writing fictitious interviews, and even publishing certain articles under the name “Herbert von Hochmeister”. These affectations permitted him to combine “his enthusiasm for the literary craft, the musician’s ear for intricate cadences; and the ham’s desire for a good laugh.”
— Richard Kostelanetz, ‘Glenn Gould: Bach in the Electronic Age’ - in John McGreevey (ed.), ‘Glenn Gould Variations’ (Doubleday, Toronto, 1983)

from The Glenn Gould Archive