I have just discovered these interviews and what priceless gems they are! It is so interesting to hear these great pianists talk about their backgrounds, and there is also a lot that can be learned from them. Melanie Spanswick has a natural gift for this sort of discussion. She has a lovely manner that makes the interview a delight, and the guests clearly respond to this. She says just enough to guide the conversation, and never interrupts or imposes her own views. A good many television interviewers could learn from her!
"If they're not changing for good after the concert, during the concert... if it's not a lifetime event for the audience - every concert - it's a bad concert. Then it's a charlatan music. Nothing else." Absolutely. Thank You! ❤
I think some of Gavrilov's views are quite out of thin air. He vastly overstates the significance of religion in Rachmaninov's music, who himself explained how he was influenced by a lot of the culture he grew up with, including but not limited to religion, music, books and many other things. And the idea that you must have lived in Russia or somehow try to emulate the composer's lifestyle (which let's be real is hardly even possible in many cases; I'm pretty sure that drinking with a German today has little to do with doing so in Bach's time) makes little sense. Rachmaninov who is considered one of the greatest performers of all time, certainly didn't live in Beethoven's footsteps. Nor did Liszt, I assume, when he premiered the Hammerklavier Sonata in a performance you can still read about today. And the notion that expressing oneself in the music is wrong because one should instead "read the text" and only play the "real meaning" of the music is obviously a non-argument, because what he really is implying is that his way to play the music is right. Everyone expresses themselves playing music. Trying to play what one considers to be the "true meaning of the text" is an expression of oneself. If there was only one correct way to play a piece, no composer would have ever accepted a performance of his pieces by someone else as equal or even superior to their own interpretations, like Rachmaninov and Chopin did. Just like Bach's music can appeal to someone who is not a protestant, German, or has anything to do with the culture of Bach's time, it can be played in its full beauty by such a person too. "If you aren't familiar with the Orthodox church, forget about playing Rachmaninov" is a ludicrous satement, that, if thought a bit further, would prohibit Gavrilov from playing a lot of the music he does. I can't find a period of living in Paris in his Biography, yet he plays Chopin. I also presume he hasn't "tried" homosexuality to gain a better "understanding" of Tchaikovsky's music. He plays them well regardless, disproving his own statement. A great pianist I think, with some odd views.
@@AlexPashkov I wrote this 5 years ago and at the time, I didn’t know how far Gavrilov’s lunacy had progressed. If you read his blog or watch any of his more recent performances, it’s clear that he has completely mentally deteriorated. He was a very good pianist once, when he played in the Tchaikovsky competition, but sadly, there’s nothing left of that.
Thank you Ms Sapnswick and Mr Gavrilov. Thanks for sharing.
I have just discovered these interviews and what priceless gems they are! It is so interesting to hear these great pianists talk about their backgrounds, and there is also a lot that can be learned from them. Melanie Spanswick has a natural gift for this sort of discussion. She has a lovely manner that makes the interview a delight, and the guests clearly respond to this. She says just enough to guide the conversation, and never interrupts or imposes her own views. A good many television interviewers could learn from her!
Thank you for your lovely comments. So glad you are enjoying the interviews.
Yes, sensitive interviewing is rare. What a pleasure when it's there!
What a great interviewer, asking only the questions that will get an interesting response.
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed my interview.
What a wonderful pleasure to hear this musical icon, speak about his life!!!!!!
Alfred Watson Thank you :-)
Nice interview.Thanks fir posting.
Pleasure, so pleased you enjoyed it :-)
"If they're not changing for good after the concert, during the concert... if it's not a lifetime event for the audience - every concert - it's a bad concert. Then it's a charlatan music. Nothing else." Absolutely. Thank You! ❤
I think some of Gavrilov's views are quite out of thin air. He vastly overstates the significance of religion in Rachmaninov's music, who himself explained how he was influenced by a lot of the culture he grew up with, including but not limited to religion, music, books and many other things. And the idea that you must have lived in Russia or somehow try to emulate the composer's lifestyle (which let's be real is hardly even possible in many cases; I'm pretty sure that drinking with a German today has little to do with doing so in Bach's time) makes little sense. Rachmaninov who is considered one of the greatest performers of all time, certainly didn't live in Beethoven's footsteps. Nor did Liszt, I assume, when he premiered the Hammerklavier Sonata in a performance you can still read about today. And the notion that expressing oneself in the music is wrong because one should instead "read the text" and only play the "real meaning" of the music is obviously a non-argument, because what he really is implying is that his way to play the music is right. Everyone expresses themselves playing music. Trying to play what one considers to be the "true meaning of the text" is an expression of oneself. If there was only one correct way to play a piece, no composer would have ever accepted a performance of his pieces by someone else as equal or even superior to their own interpretations, like Rachmaninov and Chopin did. Just like Bach's music can appeal to someone who is not a protestant, German, or has anything to do with the culture of Bach's time, it can be played in its full beauty by such a person too. "If you aren't familiar with the Orthodox church, forget about playing Rachmaninov" is a ludicrous satement, that, if thought a bit further, would prohibit Gavrilov from playing a lot of the music he does. I can't find a period of living in Paris in his Biography, yet he plays Chopin. I also presume he hasn't "tried" homosexuality to gain a better "understanding" of Tchaikovsky's music. He plays them well regardless, disproving his own statement.
A great pianist I think, with some odd views.
I absolutely agree with you. You are wrong only in the fact that he is a great pianist - his last concerts are simply terrible...
@@AlexPashkov I wrote this 5 years ago and at the time, I didn’t know how far Gavrilov’s lunacy had progressed. If you read his blog or watch any of his more recent performances, it’s clear that he has completely mentally deteriorated. He was a very good pianist once, when he played in the Tchaikovsky competition, but sadly, there’s nothing left of that.
@@SpaghettiToaster you’re absolutely right!
"Half of Bach are German songs". Which half I wonder?