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The Radio 3 Boards > The Radio 3 Boards > General Radio 3 Discussion > Krystian Zimerman on Music Matters
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Author Topic: Krystian Zimerman on Music Matters  (Read 194 times)
Don Basilio
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Era solo un mio sospetto
« on: 09:03:01, 17-05-2008 »
I heard the podcast of 10 May programme, described in a gossipy way here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio3/musicmatters/pip/lwjxu/

What the BBC website didn't mention was Mr Z's contention, that I may have misunderstood, that music isn't sound, it is something else, and that's why he doesn't like digital recordings as they make the sound too clear.

I was not clear what music was meant to be, but he is probably on to something.

I suspect I have missed some item in the argument, or got the wrong end of the stick.

I liked Zimmerman's giggles.  Giggles can be irritating, but not I found here.  Clearly the man has a mind of his own and possibly the ego to go with it.

Is he widely regarded as stark staring bonkers and Tom Service was too overawed to hint as much, or do I just have a nasty suspicious mind?
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To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.
A time to weep, and a time to laugh: a time to mourn, and a time to dance
gradus
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« Reply #1 on: 23:23:47, 17-05-2008 »
I too heard this part of the interview and he seemed to be saying that Cortot's fluffed and missed notes were intentional because as a great artist he understood the limitations of recording technique and adapted his playing accordingly, so that the listener heard what could be most artistically achieved, given the technical limitations.  By extension, modern recording is so clinical, so revealing, that artistry can no longer flourish and technology is master not servant.   
If he meant that and perhaps he didn't, I nevertheless thought that I understood something of what he was getting at when R3 broadcast a beautifully recorded performance of the E flat minor study today, that was all right notes but no understanding of the spirit of this extraordinary near-mystical piece.     
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MabelJane
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When in doubt, wash.
« Reply #2 on: 23:55:50, 17-05-2008 »
I enjoyed the interview and understood him to mean that the older recording techniques gave the listener an overall better whole musical picture but the modern recordings pick up on every little detail of the sound which may prevent you from hearing the whole musical effect of the piece - that's not well put at all I'm afraid.

I sat next to KZ at a concert in Sicily about 22 years ago when he was young, blond and dishy! I overheard him telling another musician that he was worried about a concert he was supposed to be giving in several months time with Kyung-Wha Chung as he'd heard on the grapevine she was pregnant. I wonder if it was true, and if so, did they did give that concert together? Funny how things stick in your mind.
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Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative.
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