schiff

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/culturevulture/archives/2006/05/24/the_schiff_trea.html

"It's written for one hand," Schiff notes. "It's very difficult. It's very easy to miss. So what do pianists do?"

He illustrates: some play the first note in the left hand, and the first chord in the right hand. Some contort themselves to play the first note in the right hand.

"This," he pronounces with unexpected fierceness, " is disgusting".

"With Beethoven you have got to take risks. If you miss it, it's human. Beethoven didn't play music like competition winners today, he couldn't have cared less."

This type of practical, "music for music's sake" mentality makes me really excited to see Schiff this Wednesday. Bonus: finally having a reason to go to the WDCH that doesn't involve everyone-loves-me-because-my-name-is-so-exotic Esa-Pekka Salonen.