The only word that occurs to me for him playing the whole piece first in front of the audience is: authentic (honesty). That's lovable. He is no "actor". I once learned, "real gifted musicians want to play in front of the audience, others are frightened of it".
I thought about his play and what he does is always frame the more quiet tones into the important ones at the beginning and the end. The "quiet tones" in the middle are NOT played individual, and are only a bow alltogether. This is the difference to all other pianists playing chopin, they make awful pauses and wrong emphasises everywhere, and play much too hard. He is the only one that invented those little silent small bell raindrops- which are lovable to the ears. For me this play is humble!
He wants to get the music into his subconsciousness cause only this can decide what's eternal and what is an added variation. I don't think he uses to drive to not hear the quiet tones, but to divert himself, so the way is free for the subconsciousness- or it's both.
Quite peculiar that he mentions not caring about the details (or at least not letting them distract him from the important elements of the music) since, by all accounts, his playing is the most perfect, tidy, clean, surgical of any pianist alive. I other words, I find it curious that he gets ALL OF THE DETAILS right when he expressly mentions not caring about them.
There is but one Krystian Zimerman; he is capable in ways mere mortal pianists cannot fathom. He alone has an "envelope of color" that is absolutely unique in the world of pianists. I have seen/heard such an envelope, or balloon of color whilst in his presence... on several instances. The Ravel G Major is one piece in which his technique allows his colorful palette to sparkle and glitter indescribably. I have witnessed such genius during rehearsals, performances, and recording sessions.
Very interesting... I have some difficulties to believe one could prepare 4 variants of fingering for a single piece. Sure, there are many variants we go through while learning, but overall after finding the most "comfortable" fingering, there is no much practical sense to change it - actually it would be dangerous and confusing during the performance. On other hand, being able to play the same using different fingers will keep one's mind in a good shape...
I fully agree - I almost couldn't believe that he is serious about the fingering variants. For me it would be suicide to do this; it would be a 100% bet that I'll confuse all of it....
Perhaps it is possible - hearing that brought an amusing anecdote to mind. Many years ago I read of Egon Petri, on his way to a concert, saying to a pupil "I've decided to use different fingering in the 4th [Chopin] Ballade". "When did you change it?" "Just now."
@pianovirus it makes sense, after all the real 'tone' to a piano doesn't come from a single note strike (it's just a hammer) but how each note relates to the next one.
@truecrypt I think he is only speaking of some parts of each piece, normally. In order to give accents e.g.Perhaps sometimes it's different. This shows he thinks a lot about each piece.
He also will have a version to play the whole piece more strong, if the audience is noisy, or accents, if it falls asleep :o))) I think he always wants to communicate with his audience.
And a version to play more soft, if he thinks the audience understands the sense... probably. Yes I think he can do that.
@scriabinwasmydad many musicians are very self critical. i am a pianist myself, and i detest seeing videos or listining of recordings of my playing becaus i cant hear the music, im hearing my errors.
The only word that occurs to me for him playing the whole piece first in front of the audience is: authentic (honesty). That's lovable. He is no "actor". I once learned, "real gifted musicians want to play in front of the audience, others are frightened of it".
tierzuchtZentral 3 months ago
Oh now I heard it. He said exactly that. Good then. I was right hihihi
tierzuchtZentral 3 months ago
I thought about his play and what he does is always frame the more quiet tones into the important ones at the beginning and the end. The "quiet tones" in the middle are NOT played individual, and are only a bow alltogether. This is the difference to all other pianists playing chopin, they make awful pauses and wrong emphasises everywhere, and play much too hard. He is the only one that invented those little silent small bell raindrops- which are lovable to the ears. For me this play is humble!
tierzuchtZentral 4 months ago
He wants to get the music into his subconsciousness cause only this can decide what's eternal and what is an added variation. I don't think he uses to drive to not hear the quiet tones, but to divert himself, so the way is free for the subconsciousness- or it's both.
tierzuchtZentral 4 months ago
crazy awsome. this interview is revolutionary
danielito1979 1 year ago
Zimerman listens to Alkan? My.
I would like to hear him play some pieces...
FranzLisztian 1 year ago 3
Quite peculiar that he mentions not caring about the details (or at least not letting them distract him from the important elements of the music) since, by all accounts, his playing is the most perfect, tidy, clean, surgical of any pianist alive. I other words, I find it curious that he gets ALL OF THE DETAILS right when he expressly mentions not caring about them.
Bordcla 1 year ago
@Bordcla i think he ignores it cause he hates recordings. not because he doesnt care
hbmp88 6 months ago
this is one of the most brilliant interviews regarding music and storytelling I have ever heard.
mryup 1 year ago
Can anyone PLEASE tell me what piece is the one played at 2:25
yeahso0578 1 year ago
@yeahso0578 3rd mvt brahms d minor concerto
weenosu 1 year ago
@yeahso0578 Brahms, 1st piano concerto (op.15) 3rd mvt
ericsteph 10 months ago
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i wonder what would happen if someone left him alone and set up a hidden mic on his piano
Gidenkidenk 1 year ago
i wonder what would happen if someone left him alone and set up a hidden mic
Gidenkidenk 1 year ago
Yay, he mentioned Alkan! If he played one of his pieces... just one piece of Alkan played by him will let me die in peace.
mvs13I2 1 year ago
thanks for posting the extremely interesting interview:)
JulisiaM 1 year ago
There is but one Krystian Zimerman; he is capable in ways mere mortal pianists cannot fathom. He alone has an "envelope of color" that is absolutely unique in the world of pianists. I have seen/heard such an envelope, or balloon of color whilst in his presence... on several instances. The Ravel G Major is one piece in which his technique allows his colorful palette to sparkle and glitter indescribably. I have witnessed such genius during rehearsals, performances, and recording sessions.
plateau5valley5 1 year ago
Wow, working on a piece for 25 years...
mgyucht1 1 year ago
At least THREE sets of fingerings!
Wow. That's a kind of attention to sound that I wish I had.
wol4fram 1 year ago
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I have rarely heard someone so narcissistic in the classical music world as well as being pretensious and self serving.
fsharpminor63 2 years ago
perhaps you need to listen closer. He's in fact the opposite of what you're saying.
phospholipasec 2 years ago 2
When was made this recording?
zirianos 2 years ago
@zirianos I guess this interview was in 2008 because Zimerman refers to his last solo recording of 1990 as 18 years ago during the interview.
chulesq 2 years ago
what was that first concerto he was playing
morvensky 2 years ago
Brahms Concerto No. 1 in D Minor - finale
aizenev95 2 years ago
thank you!
morvensky 2 years ago
Very interesting... I have some difficulties to believe one could prepare 4 variants of fingering for a single piece. Sure, there are many variants we go through while learning, but overall after finding the most "comfortable" fingering, there is no much practical sense to change it - actually it would be dangerous and confusing during the performance. On other hand, being able to play the same using different fingers will keep one's mind in a good shape...
truecrypt 2 years ago 10
I fully agree - I almost couldn't believe that he is serious about the fingering variants. For me it would be suicide to do this; it would be a 100% bet that I'll confuse all of it....
pianovirus 2 years ago
Perhaps it is possible - hearing that brought an amusing anecdote to mind. Many years ago I read of Egon Petri, on his way to a concert, saying to a pupil "I've decided to use different fingering in the 4th [Chopin] Ballade". "When did you change it?" "Just now."
alkanliszt 2 years ago
thats why he's genius and we both ain't, perfecionist practicly from difrent planet than rest of normal ppl :)
perdurabo1 2 years ago 10
@perdurabo1 i agree lol
Wowurgaylol 5 months ago
@pianovirus Yes, but this man is a genius virtuoso. I'd bet that you're not.
Jitpring 1 year ago
@pianovirus When has this interesting and entertaining interview been given?
tierzuchtZentral 3 months ago
@pianovirus it makes sense, after all the real 'tone' to a piano doesn't come from a single note strike (it's just a hammer) but how each note relates to the next one.
jaho101 2 months ago
@truecrypt I think he is only speaking of some parts of each piece, normally. In order to give accents e.g.Perhaps sometimes it's different. This shows he thinks a lot about each piece.
He also will have a version to play the whole piece more strong, if the audience is noisy, or accents, if it falls asleep :o))) I think he always wants to communicate with his audience.
And a version to play more soft, if he thinks the audience understands the sense... probably. Yes I think he can do that.
tierzuchtZentral 3 months ago
self-criticism can sometimes go very far ..... I hadn't known Zimerman was so critical of his performances ...
scriabinwasmydad 2 years ago
Oh yes very... in fact that's one reason why musicians who don't have recordings that could have recordings don't record very much (if at all).
RabidCh 2 years ago 2
@scriabinwasmydad many musicians are very self critical. i am a pianist myself, and i detest seeing videos or listining of recordings of my playing becaus i cant hear the music, im hearing my errors.
Doug19752533 2 years ago