ps- Looking forward to your return to Montreal next year.

Hi Dave – I have never heard any of the two players you are mentioning in real concert, I just heard good things about both of them; oh, I wouldn’t censor anything, even if you say some things I completely disagree; I only deleted two or three comments which were insulting and obviously meant to be silly. This said, there is a very strong spam filter which filters every day hundreds of messages, so it might be, that sometimes some comment gets filtered away without me realizing. I apologize for that!
But yes, I agree, it seems that some audiences are easier to be seduced by superficial gestures than
others, may they be less educated, or maybe it is also just Zeitgeist – everything is more in our faces; just compare action movies of today with old James Bond movies, or the video clips of today with the ones 20 years ago. Everything is faster, louder, and, as I put it, more in your face. Everything has to be apparently exaggerated in order to be felt or tasted (wrote a blog about this couple of years ago, “Sugar in Music” I think it was called), this is sad but often true…
The real deal? Oh, I don’t feel like it right now at all, just ready for holidays – one month no concerts, I can’t tell you how much I need this in order to keep on making music as authentically as I can (it’s tiring at times…).
Best wishes from Chautauqua,
Alban

Unlike you, I’ll name names. I had to stop looking at Alisa Weilerstein this spring when she performed Shostakovich’s 2nd cello concerto with the St. Petersburg Philharmonic. Maybe she was being genuine (I’m not in a position to question her motives), but my god, I just wasn’t interested in seeing her dancing in her chair, grimacing, and otherwise performing non-musically. Even not looking at her, I have to say, I did not care for her performance either, because it lacked any sort of self-discipline and as a result just “missed” the music in a big way. It seemed to be all about her, not Shostakovich (although I was in the minority on that opinion for sure, not just with the audience, but even with the people I was with). I think Joshua Bell is a tremendous violinist, but for god’s sake, I wish he would just play and stop with the constant gestures, dancing with his feet anchored to the floor, etc. He is far more talented, and far better a musician, than this, and his visual performances just cheapen the overall experience. Or the pianist Jonathan Biss, who hits the trifecta in my book–annoying gestures, unnecessary body movements, and indistinguished playing (I’ve heard him live now three times, and for the life of me I do not understand how he gets such great reviews let alone has a career–there is a phrase in French which describes his piano playing to my ears–vin ordinaire).

Then contrast to someone like Martha Argerich. She does not emote, she does not make gestures, she just plays–and my god does she play. She is not exciting to watch–but unbelievable to listen to! Or you, for that matter. You are the real deal, an outstanding musician who seems to truly make music, rather than just do another gig.

A great topic for sure…I just hope you actually print this and not censor it, because I name some (but far from all) names.

It is interesting to think about physical gestures, which can sometimes mar a perfectly musical performance, or in ordinary life, a conversation with a human being. Some everyday gestures are the stock in trade of polite discourse and help people connect: smiling, nodding, shaking hands, eye contact and the like. But, if inauthentic or overdone, most people sense it right away, and what was meant to draw people in can push them away. I find it the same with physical gestures of musicians when playing. Somehow if the gestures seem to be involuntary and authentic, and subtle enough that they don’t overshadow what’s being done through sound, they don’t bother me at all. But if I get the feeling that the musician is mugging for the audience, if they’re giving me a roadmap of what I ‘should’ be feeling at the moment, it turns me off big time.

I’m glad you’re having a great summer. Your trip with your son sounds like a dream trip for a boy his age.