My Duty Is a Beautiful Performance — I'll Do Anything to Move the Audience
Creatrip Team
2 months ago
Pianist Krystian Zimerman (70), hailed as one of today’s greatest pianists, will perform solo recitals in Seoul (Lotte Concert Hall) on Jan 13, 15 and 18. In a Korea Economic Daily interview, the Polish virtuoso said he wants audiences to come trusting he will give his best, so he reveals his concert program only on the day of the performance. Centering on preludes, Zimerman assembled over 150 short pieces into a 24-key sequence, inspired by Bach’s Well-Tempered Clavier (평균율 클라비어 곡집). He described intense but thoughtful practice—often “practicing” mentally—and sometimes bringing his own keyboard action (액션) when travel makes transporting a full piano hard. He rejects the label of perfectionist, saying he is driven by curiosity and the desire to improve. Reflecting on a formative memory of an older pianist losing and regaining his way on stage, Zimerman said it taught him that moving the audience emotionally is his duty: “If I can make the audience cry with beautiful music, I’ll do anything.” He praised younger musicians for their talent and urged them to learn from their mistakes.
