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First time in jury
Monday, 10 October 2005
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One needs to play in agreement with his personality
15th Chopin Competition Jury member Vera Gornostaeva talks to Aleksander Laskowski:
■ Is this your first time as a Competition judge?
Yes, it is. Actually, until not long ago my contacts with Poland were limited. For the first time I visited Chopin's country two years ago at the invitation of Piotr Paleczny. I fell in love with Duszniki and Poland in general. And here I am again, this time as a juror.
■ How do you think young pianists should prepare for the Competition?
In order to be able to even think of participating in a competition, a young pianist must have a deep belief that their personality goes well with a specific competition. The fact that someone may have excellent technique is not enough. Of course, one can play fast and loud, but the quality of the music suffers then.
■ How should Chopin be played?
It's not easy to answer this question. One needs to play in agreement with his personality, remember what kind of man he was; read his letters, look into his portraits; think about his life; try to find his voice within oneself-a voice that is not necessarily loud, but unique. Chopin was an aristocrat in spirit. If a pianist playing this composer's music lacks culture, terrible things happen. This is immediately audible. After all, Chopin lived within a sphere of high culture. He was subtle and refined. So his music cannot be understood by a pianist who has not received these features from nature. Nature may have given them skillful hands and a good ear, but this is still not enough. Aren't you interested to know if I've heard this culture in Chopin's music during this competition?
■ Very much.
Yes, I have heard it, thank God. Young people are very attracted to Chopin. If his name appears on the billboards, there's always a full house. Even though this music is elitist in nature, which to me means beautiful. This is what attracts the audience.
But the older you get, the more aware you become that there is still something else behind this beauty-pain. Chopin had to leave Poland, the place he loved most in the world. And that's why he suffered.
This interview appears courtesy of The Warsaw Voice.
You will find more articles in connection with the 15th International F. Chopin Piano Competition in a competition Gazette at www.konkurs.chopin.pl and www.chopin.warsawvoice.pl
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