Da Doctah, Da Hough n Da Whale express dem selves upon dis mozt troubling of topics…
First to take da stand: Dre
‘I understand virtuosity as being a heightened mental command of, and natural facility with all aspects of the science of music along with an ability to marshal efficiently all of one’s resources - musical, emotional and corporal - in order to bring such music to life. As with any natural facility, such as a predisposition for learning languages for example, I believe these attributes are inborn, though it goes without saying that they should be developed, cultivated, sharpened and maintained through hard work. However, the general perception of virtuosos among the general public is very often that of performers who place purley physical display above the conveyance of the emotional essence of the works they perform. They are fairly often regarded as mere keyboard athletes. This is why I don’t like this label being applied to my work. Despite possible appearances, I am not at all interested in displaying physical prowess on stage. The sole reason for me to appear in public is to share with audiances the miralce of human creativity through composition, using everything at my disposal to the fullest.’
On being called a ‘super-virtuoso’:
‘It was applied to me several years ago by Harold Schonberg in the New York TImes. It did get repeated ad nauseam thereafter, mostly because I had included it in all my press materials. I had done so because such an appellation is the kind of thing that can prove very useful and attention-grabbinh from a media standpoint at the beginning of one’s career, but it is certainly not something I want to be stigmatised with…’
Da Hough:
‘I think it has something to do with just playing the instrument extraordinarily well - in every respect. If you can do this, then it would be rather silly to avoid that by playing less well. The point is to observe the music’s requirements. If you’re playing Liszt and you eschew virtuosity then it’s ridiculous - you’re not serving the composer. It would be as ludicrous as playing Schubert and looking for opportunities to flex your virtuosic muscles. One of the great mistkaes is to equate virtuosity with playing very quickly, because to someone who doesn’t play an instrument, that’s what looks impressive. It’s just as difficult to play a small Debussy prelude as it is to play a Godowsky etude. They both require elements of virtuosity. Giesking’s virtuosity in his voicing and colouring counts to me more than someone’s digital dexterity. To me a real virtuoso is someone who can do everythin digitally but also has the full range of nuance, colour, voicing of chords and, particulary, pedalling. Why is it that, when you hear Friedman in the C major Etude Op. 10 No. 7 of Chopin, it flutters and shimmers like no one else’s? Well, because he’s a virtuoso.’
Can some become a virtuoso through hard work alone? Da Hough replies:
‘No. It is an innate gift. There has to be an inbuilt aptitude and sensibility as there must also be a certain spark in the eye and fire in the belly.’
‘Vladimir Horowitz is perhaps everyone’s idea of a virtuoso. Whether or not he is a pianist you like, you cannot deny that when he is playing there is something compelling feature - not necessarily very pleasant - that elevates him above so many other people who on paper at least, play just as fast and are just as accomplished technically.’
Finally Da Whale disses Da Ho
‘Everybody names Horowitz as the ideal of virtuosity. But you can say that, in fact, Horowitz was not a virtuoso, because he played very inaccurately at times and all the music was subjugated to his own technical needs.’
‘Virtuosity means clarity. How clearly are you conveying the music and the composer’s intentions? For me, Edwin Fischer was a virtuoso, even though he did not have a spectacular technique. Also Arrau and of course Rachmaninov.’
‘I think being called a virtuoso is one of the greatest compliments you can be paid. People have judged you to be a performer who is perhaps out of the ordinary. Why just be a good pianist? It’s nice to be called a virtuoso.’
: ‘It’s nice to be called a virtuoso.’
: ‘it iz certainly not something I want to be stigmatised with…’
)
