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Polish Perfectionist Pianist Prefers Perfect Peace
Via RedStateLA Times article about a Polish perfectionist pianist who is quitting touring the US with his music because of US foreign policy. Imminently Fiskable material, but here is my question: Why try to tell journalists in the US Zimmerman's decision wasn't political when it clearly was political? Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman, who is widely admired for his virtuosic performances and who famously tours with his own custom-altered Steinway, created a furor at Disney Hall on Sunday night when he stopped his recital to announce that this would be his last American appearance -- in protest of the nation's military policies overseas. Good for him. Put your money where your mouth is, dude. In a low voice that could not be heard throughout the auditorium, Zimerman, universally considered among the world's finest pianists, made reference to Guantanamo Bay and U.S. military policies toward Poland. Yeah, Gawd forbid Poland doesn't get overrun by Russia or nuked by Iran. And let us not forget the incredible inhumane insanity of "three hots and a cot" "Get your hands off my country," he said. Such brilliance! Then he turned to the piano and played Szymanowski's "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme" with such passion and intensity that the stunned audience gave him multiple ovations. He got an ovation because he finally STFU about politics and played some music. If I wanted to hear about politics at a music concert I would have beat it out of him Earlier, about 30 or 40 people in the audience had walked out after Zimerman's declaration, some shouting obscenities. You lost some fans, dude. Mebbe you should keep it down until the concert is finished, or better yet outside selling tickets before the concert even begins. The way you did it makes you sound just like a showman: there's a sucker born every minute,and 30 walked out on you. "Yes," the pianist, known in Poland as "King Krystian the Glorious," answered, "some people, when they hear the word military, start marching." Brilliant! Posted by: badanov 2009-04-30 |
| http://www.rantburg.com/poparticle.php?ID=268724 |