RIP Maurizio Pollini

[Mandryka]

the Pollini that emerged after his post Chopin Competition sabbatical was certainly not the one everyone heard in Warsaw.

That's an interesting idea. Here's his 1960 competition recording if anyone wants to think about it (I'm going to bed!)

[Herman]

What a troubling and moving account that is. I hope Pollini was able to take the clear message from the audience, 'We don't care, we don't care, we're just grateful for your existence!' The iniquities of ageing on the body and mind are well documented, but communal compassion for its ravages is given a rare chance to express itself unmistakably when its manifestation is so public.

The better way to express this compassion had been if Pollini's agent (et al) had realized earlier that it was time to stop planning recitals, and retire in peace. I have a hard time believing a perfectionist artist like Pollini (who nixed many recordings because they weren't flawless) took away from this catastrophic recital "People don't care, they love me anyway", rather than "I failed at Schumann." He cared deeply about this.

There is something ghoulish in audiences insisting on deeply aged performers to keep going on because of some attachment to the known and familiar faces. They want to see 'the last recital'. Well, they did. Some conductors come to mind, too...

[Iota]

The better way to express this compassion had been if Pollini's agent (et al) had realized earlier that it was time to stop planning recitals, and retire in peace. I have a hard time believing a perfectionist artist like Pollini (who nixed many recordings because they weren't flawless) took away from this catastrophic recital "People don't care, they love me anyway", rather than "I failed at Schumann." He cared deeply about this.

There is something ghoulish in audiences insisting on deeply aged performers to keep going on because of some attachment to the known and familiar faces. They want to see 'the last recital'. Well, they did. Some conductors come to mind, too...

Perhaps that is true. I'd agree that an event such as this is undesirable for everyone. But perhaps Pollini himself wanted to give the recital, and without the benefit of hindsight, I imagine it would be rather difficult to insist he didn't. Or perhaps somebody tried to dissuade him and he went ahead with it anyway, I have no idea.
My point was that as it did happen, I hoped the audience reacting with such obvious compassion and love, was some balm to him, if not immediately then at some point.

[AnotherSpin]

The better way to express this compassion had been if Pollini's agent (et al) had realized earlier that it was time to stop planning recitals, and retire in peace. I have a hard time believing a perfectionist artist like Pollini (who nixed many recordings because they weren't flawless) took away from this catastrophic recital "People don't care, they love me anyway", rather than "I failed at Schumann." He cared deeply about this.

There is something ghoulish in audiences insisting on deeply aged performers to keep going on because of some attachment to the known and familiar faces. They want to see 'the last recital'. Well, they did. Some conductors come to mind, too...

I think there is no need to expect technical perfection from a great pianist, especially one who is no longer young. We're talking about a human, not a machine. Or impeccable memory, for the same reason. Even young pianists often play from notes. There is a special charm in imperfections and faults. Pianistic wabi-sabi. 

[Florestan]

There is something ghoulish in audiences insisting on deeply aged performers to keep going on because of some attachment to the known and familiar faces. They want to see 'the last recital'. Well, they did. Some conductors come to mind, too...

You make it sound as if Pollini was a brainless and faithful executant of the will and wishes of a sadistic audience and had no say whatsoever in when, where and what to play...

[Jo498]

Audiences accepted pianists playing with the sheet music (Richter did it for a long time) or avoiding pieces of a high difficulty (e.g. Horszowski who played into his 90s but AFAIK certainly not the Schumann Fantasy).

[Holden]

I think there is no need to expect technical perfection from a great pianist, especially one who is no longer young. We're talking about a human, not a machine. Or impeccable memory, for the same reason. Even young pianists often play from notes. There is a special charm in imperfections and faults. Pianistic wabi-sabi. 

Cortot is a perfect example of this happening - some fumbles but the overall result is great music.

[Mookalafalas]

I saw Pollini playing Debussy recital just a few years ago, in Chicago. When he stood up and walked--to take a bow, and leave and come back for his encore--he doddered like a zombie. But, when he sat down and played, he was like a God.

[Atriod]

I saw Pollini playing Debussy recital just a few years ago, in Chicago. When he stood up and walked--to take a bow, and leave and come back for his encore--he doddered like a zombie. But, when he sat down and played, he was like a God.

I was pretty addicted to his CD of Debussy's Preludes Book 2, something that I overlooked and only discovered a couple of years ago. I normally don't like Book 2 played at that tempo, but there was something just spell binding about them. I could never stop to listen to just one or two preludes, I'd invariably end up listening to the whole CD. His phrasing, accents, powerful left hand chords, the way he'd pause for the briefest moments to let something echo out (reminiscent of Richter playing Clair de lune), it was all just magical. Never heard En blanc et noir as good as the one on that disc either. I'm glad we have son who is also a massive talent and seems to have that same textural fidelity of Maurizio.

Him and Lupu are my one and two regrets for not seeing live. Now I never hesitate, even if it means international travel.

[Spotted Horses]

Anyway, I'm grateful we eventually got Debussy Preludes, Book II, but sadly not Bach WTC Book II (until the artificial intelligence mob claims to have a simulation of Pollini).