3:47 "I also think it's more fun to go to a concert by someone who is young and attractive". With that, he makes it known that he is very well aware of the conditions of his success and he acknowlegdes them. The image of the young genius that was set by Marta Argerich is nourished this way, and for that nowadays not only excellent playing is needed.
5:11 'Geniuses develop themselves only on the other side of borders', is said. This line is important to Pogorelich. That one can also make money by playing piano is very confusing for him. [Robert Kenessey: I don't understand this well]
The first point of my work is the work by itself, the money comes in second place.
6:00 At such a high value of his work, it is not possible to have a normal family live. But for that, others suffer. His previous teacher from Moscow, whom he maried in 1980, has given up her carreer for him. Her world is his music, as she puts it. And thereby it leaves for her the cliché 'place at his breast'
6:25 what he thinks about politics I want to know.
I don't bother myself with that. I am to busy with art, and next to that I think that the people who mix the two are losers in both.
And what does he think of the image that the press gives of him?
I don't know. In every carreer there are things that one likes and that one doens't. I actually don't want to talk about that. Because I can't control it.
But do you try to control it?
I don't think so. The image can lead its own life in peace. I just try to keep everything at a distance that could influence my work and that is already hard enough.
What happened in your life besides work in the last years?
Nothing at all, there was only work.
7:30 That's how forced things are rather like business accidents to him and my interview with the genius is suddenly stopped for an emergency tooth treatment. A genius that can play very well but above that sells really well. That's the whole secret of his success.
8:40 He isn't yet well by the way, he is still in the hospital. He got a hepatitis infection on top of that. So his German tour that would have started today on March 1st starts on the 12th instead. [of what year?]
Interesting interview! I think he plays well, his physical appearance is not a major factor for me, but maybe for women (anyone?...). I think he was quite stupid to marry his piano teacher. she could be his grandmother. Not a 'bond made in heaven' I presume.
So dino, are you a big fan of his? Is he especially liked in former Yugoslav Republics?
I have an impression of your keyboard skills from your website and your upcoming concerto. So as to Bartók, you can easily play anything he composed. I would advice the 'Out of doors' suite. Otherwise the sonata. There is a performance on youtube of the Sonata by kocsis (just search for 'bartok sonata kocsis'). I am working on this right now and it is not even that hard. If you liked profieff 7th (which is in your repertoir, you are apt to like this sonata as well). Otherwise his Suite op. 14 is nice, but the first and third movements are heavily influced by folk music (like his Sonatina you liked a lot).
Too bad Bartók didn't write much solo piano work in his two last decades when his style was more accessible again. His great 3rd piano concerto and sonata for 2 piano's and percussion are from his last period. Unless you want to try the last 2 books of Mikrokosmos, I suggest the 'Out of doors' suite. Especially the 4th movement which is a modern nocturne. ENJOY!
the movements in English are called:
1) With drums and pipes
2) Barcarolla
3) Musettes (type of small bagpipe)
4) The night's music
5) The Chase
you can find it here, remove the spaces:
http://imslp.org/wiki/ Out_of_Doors_%28Szabadban%29%2C_Sz.81_%28Bart%C3%B3k%2C_B%C3%A9la%29
