Krystian Zimerman: My Duty Is to Deliver Beautiful Playing — I’d Do Anything to Move the Audience
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Polish piano master Krystian Zimerman (70) tells Korea Economic Daily he wants audiences to trust him and experience his best performance rather than come for famous pieces. Performing solo recitals at Lotte Concert Hall on Jan 13, 15 and 18, he will reveal the program on the day, explaining his choice springs from changing affinities and a desire to present the beauty of works. Zimerman organized over 150 short pieces into 24 preludes, inspired by Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (평균율 클라비어 곡집), aiming to focus on beauty. He describes disciplined but thoughtful practice—often “practicing” in his head—and sometimes traveling with his own keyboard action (액션) when pianos aren’t available. Rejecting the label of perfectionist, he says he’s curious, always seeking improvement, and learns most from his mistakes. Reflecting on a moment when an older pianist’s struggle moved half the audience to tears, Zimerman vowed to do anything to make listeners feel deeply. He praises younger musicians as smarter and more developed than past generations and encourages learning from errors.
