2 kinds of piano career- which would you rather be?

[crazy for ivan moravec]

if you have everything it takes for a piano career, and you have you only 2 choices of a kind of career, which would you rather be? a lang2x type OR some sort of an academe pianist who can play also virtuosically but rather stay and be an "elitist" and keep the tradition, staying in a university all your life and teaching/studying/researching/etc.?

i know one can be both, but what if you only have 2 options..? just curious.

discuss... why? etc etc.

if i had only 2 choices, i'd go for the academe pianist. i seem to be happier staying quietly as an artist and work on the music of the masters than go on lots of touring. of course, there would be like a few performances, maybe 5 or 6 in a year, and some recordings, but no more than that. i can't take a lang2x type of career.

[jason2711]

i'd probably go for the lang2x career, though I would probably feel ashamed of having so much fame and hype, when there are probably better pianists than myself around.  It's the sort of career I dream of, touring around the world, packed audiences, making recordings and performing with major orchestras.  I don't know whether the constant hectic amount of performances would destroy my love of performing, but I'd at least like to experience the opportunity. 

I'd probably end up going nuts though... looking on the piano forums and seeing my name knocked about like mud would really destroy me.  But hey, earning hundreds of thousands from doing what I love, to massive amounts of appreciative audiences, would probably neutralise this.
 
I would much rather bring classical music to ordinary people (without butchering it a la Maksim), than be seen as a pretentious academic.

However.. I'm probably more likely to end up the latter anyway 

[bench warmer]

                                         Mick Jagger

[jamie0168]

I'd go the music academe route. Although I've dreamed of becoming the Lang Lang type, I wouldn't be able to deal with the stress of so much touring, performing, etc.  I heard somewhere that being a university professor is one of "the happiest" jobs in the world. Even though I'd never make as much money as I deserved for all my hard work (which 99.9% of musicians never do), I'd atleast be able to go to work everyday with a smile on my face and song in my heart. 

[pies]

I do not look beyond being able to please/entertain my family and friends, the only people that matter to me. I doubt I'd be able to live the concert pianist lifestyle or work at a university until I rot.

[Waldszenen]

I'd be the... errr... second choice. Anything that isn't show-offy, arrogant or plain ridiculous (Lang Lang) is what I'd choose.


In particular I want to revive the old style of playing - the one characterised by Schnabel and Hofmann - that was the golden age.

[thalbergmad]

In particular I want to revive the old style of playing - the one characterised by Schnabel and Hofmann - that was the golden age.

Well said that man.

[zheer]

Solo pianist, ( if only )

[thalbergmad]

I am glad i had no career.

I play what i want, when i want and anyone who don't like it can sod off.

Thal

[jas]

I am glad i had no career.

I play what i want, when i want and anyone who don't like it can sod off.

Thal

I completely agree. If the piano was my life I'd probably stop enjoying it. That's why I'm usually sceptical of people who say they practise 23 hours a day...

[thalbergmad]

If the piano was my life I'd probably stop enjoying it.

That was always my worry.

[infectedmushroom]

Being a Lang Lang kinda type would be cool for a while I think. Just the feeling that all kinda people come to see you if you're giving a performance. That will give a great feeling I think. Everyone wants to hear and see you and everyone admires your skills. Of course, in this state, you gave your life to the piano, so, it's also your way to make money and I think earning quite a lot of money to play the piano isn't that bad. 

But after a while I think that's gonna lead to stress, or it leads to that you're not enjoying playing the piano anymore. Also, you're famous and you're always busy.

[tee_dee_es]

lang2 type is the way to own original picasso, monet, renoir and what not.

the later type is the way to enjoy nice prints of the above.

[pianistimo]

speaking of that, can anyone lift the 'beethoven standing by a stream' at steinway hall for me? (just kidding of course, but i LOVe that pic).  didn't want to leave steinway hall because of that painting.  does anyone know who painted it? 

i'd like to be a concert pianist - but i wouldn't care if i was in steinway hall artists pics.  it would be nice to get a free steinway.  does that happen?  i'd like to travel around the country with several other pianists and do duets and things like the labeque sisters.  except, i'd like to do solos as well.  a combo kind of thing.  i do not relish the 'aloneness' of one travelling and doing everything alone.  in fact, the more that i think about it, i'd bring my hubby along to so he could sing as well.

[prometheus]

Lang Lang is keeping the tradition by recording that what the record companies tell him to record, pieces that already have been recorded a thousand times.

So this 'elitist guy' is probably rebelling against this. Even if you consider him to be in an ivory tower recording obscure stuff.

[arensky]

lang2 type is the way to own original picasso, monet, renoir and what not.

the later type is the way to enjoy nice prints of the above.

Yes. 

And later you can teach all you want, the prestige of studying with you will be such that all the top schools will beg you to teach a limited number of students on your terms. And /or write "elitist" books about what it all means. So the Lang Lang/Horowitz life can lead to the "elitist" life, but probably not the other way around. I opted to travel  the first path, and while it did not work out as planned I like the way things have worked out. I have my own "academy", teach part time at a college, play Jazz, and must leave now to eat breakfast and then play a Mozart Concerto!

Yes I own the prints not the originals, but you can't have everything.