Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman rocked Shriver Hall tonight and opened a three-day event named "Piano Celebration" with an astonishinng "bang".
Considered one of the greatest pianists in his age, Zimerman's characteristic and eccentric timing went through every pieces on the program. It seemed he would like to insert some silence or sustained resonance here and there as a very interesting note. I would say it worked very well with the Beethoven "Pathétique" Sonata, giving the old favorite a fresh new interpretation. He dedicated it to "those in prison who chose to fight the law instead of abeying it".
Another prominent piece in the program was a sonata by Grazyna Bacewicz, a female Polish composer, whom Zimerman had been very close to, about war. Having suffered from World War II, the composer must have had a profound sentiment and understanding of war and was able to convey it to the audience through technically and musically demanding passages only a true virtuosic pianist like Zimerman could master. The Polish Ambassador to the United States, who was sitting in the audience must have been very happy with his great Polish pianist playing a great Polish composer's work.
When the audience was applauding unstoppingly to express their appreciation as well as to hope for an encore, the pianist was first surprised by their enthusiasm, childishly extending his head from behind the backstage and then coming out. When the audience was still not leaving, he pointed to his wrist and made a gesture of sleeping to remind them it was time for bed.
Considered one of the greatest pianists in his age, Zimerman's characteristic and eccentric timing went through every pieces on the program. It seemed he would like to insert some silence or sustained resonance here and there as a very interesting note. I would say it worked very well with the Beethoven "Pathétique" Sonata, giving the old favorite a fresh new interpretation. He dedicated it to "those in prison who chose to fight the law instead of abeying it".
Another prominent piece in the program was a sonata by Grazyna Bacewicz, a female Polish composer, whom Zimerman had been very close to, about war. Having suffered from World War II, the composer must have had a profound sentiment and understanding of war and was able to convey it to the audience through technically and musically demanding passages only a true virtuosic pianist like Zimerman could master. The Polish Ambassador to the United States, who was sitting in the audience must have been very happy with his great Polish pianist playing a great Polish composer's work.
When the audience was applauding unstoppingly to express their appreciation as well as to hope for an encore, the pianist was first surprised by their enthusiasm, childishly extending his head from behind the backstage and then coming out. When the audience was still not leaving, he pointed to his wrist and made a gesture of sleeping to remind them it was time for bed.
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