Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut

Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman's political speech during his debut recital at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles shocked his Californian audience. He told the Americans to "Get your hands off my country", before he played Polish composer Karol Szymanowski's Variations on a Polish Theme

When I met Zimerman last year to interview him for Music Matters, I asked him if he really thought this kind of protest was the best way of making a point. His answer was that he couldn't in good conscience play to an audience in a country whose political leaders he disagreed with, without making some kind of stand. Zimerman isn't naïve enough to think that his way of speaking out is going to change US policy in Eastern Europe. But he feels his music making can only speak to listeners who understand where he's coming from.

McCoyThreads: 46 Posts: 1,756 Joined: Jul 3, 08	Apr 27, 09, 15:41 / #
Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut Before playing the final work on his recital, Karol Szymanowski’s "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme," Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice that did not project well, he indicated that he could no longer play in a country whose military wants to control the whole world. “Get your hands off of my country,” he said. He also made reference to the U.S. military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

miranda	Edited by: miranda Apr 27, 09, 16:02 / #
it appears that he has had some major problems with the US concerts in the past. I guess he was just honest. Good for him.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Apr 28, 09, 11:56 / #
Polish pianist stops show with anti-US tirade Krystian Zimerman, the great Polish concert pianist, is usually a man of few words..... he raised his voice ...... on Sunday night and announced he would no longer perform in the United States ........... "Get your hands off my country," Zimerman told the stunned crowd in a denunciation of US plans to install a missile defence shield on Polish soil.

SRK85Threads: - Posts: 75 Joined: Mar 30, 09	Apr 28, 09, 13:49 / #
Thats funny but do most Poles agree with the missile defense shield or they against it?

MiruThreads: 1 Posts: 59 Joined: Apr 20, 09	Edited by: Moderator Apr 28, 09, 14:05 / #
I think americans need some geographical globes. Whoever came up with a shield in Poland must've been looking at a flat map if they didn't realise that Arabs can simply shoot their missiles in the opposite direction. The issue of the missile base can be discussed in U.S. Missile Base in Poland----Your thoughts?

plk123Threads: 30 Posts: 6,412 Joined: Aug 29, 07	Apr 28, 09, 17:37 / #
sweet.

Polonius3Threads: 1,005 Posts: 4,833 Joined: Apr 11, 08	Apr 28, 09, 19:56 / #
America has long been the arsenal of democracy, not a colonial power the likes of Britain or France. No, it's not perfect. Everything man-made is flawed. But when all is said and done, if you had to choose one power to play the dominant role in the world, would you choose China, Russia, Venezuela, India, Germany, Brazil or something else?

Pani_PolskaThreads: - Posts: 94 Joined: Apr 27, 09	Apr 28, 09, 20:04 / #
Great topic! I believe he has a point but I think he may have chose the wrong time to express his sentiment... However, it definitely brought him media attention! The missle shield frightens me, I'd hate to see the Russian government try to wiggle their way back into Poland again.

BarneyThreads: 16 Posts: 1,630 Joined: May 26, 08	Apr 29, 09, 00:44 / #
If I read correctly The US impounded his piano then destroyed it because the glue smelled funny. Polonius3: America has long been the arsenal of democracy Long live democracy

RubasznyRumcajsThreads: 9 Posts: 283 Joined: Mar 29, 08	Apr 29, 09, 02:15 / #
great. people came for hearing his concert, not for hearing his political views and opinions. if he likes, he could express them in interview.

pawianThreads: 90 Posts: 5,387 Joined: May 30, 08	Apr 29, 09, 07:26 / #
RubasznyRumcajs: great. people came for hearing his concert, not for hearing his political views and opinions. if he likes, he could express them in interview Exactly. It is like a surgeon, who instead of starting an operation, gives a political speech over the operating table and you on it. If an artist of any sort resorts to such things, it means he/she is finished artistically and feels compelled to attract people`s attention in another way.

SalomonThreads: 6 Posts: 602 Joined: Apr 7, 09	Apr 30, 09, 01:33 / #
The Guardian: Why pianist Krystian Zimerman was right to speak out http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/tomserviceblog/2009/apr/28/pianist-kry stian-zimerman Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman's political speech during his debut recital at Walt Disney Hall in Los Angeles shocked his Californian audience. He told the Americans to "Get your hands off my country", before he played Polish composer Karol Szymanowski's Variations on a Polish Theme When I met Zimerman last year to interview him for Music Matters, I asked him if he really thought this kind of protest was the best way of making a point. His answer was that he couldn't in good conscience play to an audience in a country whose political leaders he disagreed with, without making some kind of stand. Zimerman isn't naïve enough to think that his way of speaking out is going to change US policy in Eastern Europe. But he feels his music making can only speak to listeners who understand where he's coming from.

southernThreads: 116 Posts: 10,949 Joined: May 17, 07	Apr 30, 09, 01:35 / #
McCoy: “Get your hands off of my country,” he said The Poles have guts.