Pinchas Zukerman on James Ehnes

[violinhunter2]

Zukerman is not terribly articulate but, on the other hand, music is impossible to describe with words. If we could describe the Mozart Jupiter with words, we would not need to listen to it. What can one say about music performance? It is either good or bad or straightforward - meaning playing without histrionics? Berlioz and Schumann were good with words but Zukerman, I don't know.

[yocreo]

I love that kind of "perfection".... gives LIGHT TO MY EARS!!! At the end what is sound but a kind of light.

[yscslim]

lol funny speeches

[amazinglazedonut]

Straight forward indeed. Straight forward = -Straight backward. I haven't listened to much of Pinchas's performances, but I hope his musical lexicon is less limited and "straight forward" than his linguistic. What a disappointment to see someone who deals with music, people and expression so ineptly describe a phenomenal musician.

[msiu]

@amazinglazedonut Actually I think it's a very interesting word choice; I think he's mixing high praise with a tiny tiny bit of criticism. To me Ehnes' playing is really perfect, everything is just right and it's almost too perfect to the point of being fault, if that makes any sense. Almost too "straightforward". There're players who are less capable overall, but with more interesting ideas here and there.