Famous pianists with stage fright.

[chopinmozart7]

Does anyone know of famous pianists who suffer from stage fright?
For me it is a major obstacle and it affects my playing dramatically every time I perform publicly.

[pianist1976]

I think that everybody, in a greater or lesser degree, suffers "stage fright".

Some famous pianists with a notable stage fright: Frédéric Chopin, Glenn Gould (he retired from stage at 31), Vladimir Horowitz (retired several times, with also several famous returns) and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (there were really famous his last hour concert cancellations).

[wiggityp]

I've heard that Godowsky suffered from acute stage fright, despite his marvelous mastery of the keyboard. I believe he only truly shone when playing for small intimate gatherings in peoples homes and such. Yet his legacy is considerable.

Also Chopin himself was said to have been pointedly reserved in regards to his personal performance, although this may have just been due to his not having a desire to play for others given that he could just sit back on his compositional laurels. But it probably was at least partly due to stage fright.

I think that an stage fright is a good indicator of a consciously self-aware performer, who feels some level of desire to provide their audience with their best possible performance. I think it's just a matter of doing it over and over again, and like basically everything else it will get easier. Pianostreet's a great place to do this, as the audition room is (or should be) a very low stress environment for displaying your talents. Just try and play for people whenever you get the chance. Try and initiate the performance too. Ask someone to listen to you play, rather than the other way around (obviously we don't want to make a nuisance of oneself but for the sake of art...), it will put the performance more on your terms from the beginning.

Anyways sorry to ramble. I'm sure there are any number of lauded professional pianists throughout history who have suffered from stage fright. With possibly a few exceptions I would think everyone's gotten pretty anxious about a performance at one time or another.

On the opposing end you might have someone like Lang Lang, who would seem as relaxed as can be even when performing in front of a billion people. And don't get me wrong he is an astonishing pianist and I can't wait to listen to his output as time goes on; but at this point his over-confidence in his technical abilities is a weakness, it makes him look like a showboat who puts more emphasis on his finger wizardry than on making provocative entrancing music. I think him and those like him could probably use a little stage fright a little more self-awareness of themselves and what they're playing.

Just be yourself accept that you're human and will make some mistakes from time to time, and steadily your anxiety should just get less and less until it eventually disappears altogether, then there will only be your music.

[thalbergmad]

The story of Henselt smoking a cigar in the wings and forgetting to leave it behind when he went out on stage to play before the Czar, always makes me laugh. I wonder if it really happened.

Henselt must be the stagefright world champion.

Thal

[ponken]

I think all pianists suffer from some kind of stage fright at some point. Some more than others. It is a human reaction when you are in the spotlight of a great audience. For some people the fright can be excessive and reduce the quality of the playing a lot and for some it is just unmanageable. If you feel that your fright is excessive, start playing in front of small audiences to begin with, like playing for family members or friends. Then play in front of a little bigger audiences. Also PianoStreet's audition room is a great place for this. Take step by step. You might never get over your stage fright completely but you it can become manageable with training. Good luck!

[birba]

Martha Argerich suffers from the most extreme stage fright.  I know a conductor who had to slap her in the face to break her hysterics before walking out to play the Chopin.  She would cut her finger so she could cancel a concert.  I think that's why she does no more solo recitals.  ONly chamber music and concertos.
I was at a concert of Horowitz at Lincoln center in 1980, and I was in the first row on the stage, because the hall was sold out, of course.  He walked out, and the first thing he did was look over to his wife (Toscanini's daughter) for encouragement.  She did not as so much crack a smile.  Nothing.  Not even a nod of her head.  He began with Scarlatti sonata - the one in F major, I think, that begins with an octave.  F in the right hand, f in the lower hand.  He was shaking so much, the first measure sounded like Stockhausen.  I was dying for him.  But, like always, he got over it and played the most incredible Rachmaninov (sonata) I've ever heard.
I'm not so sure that Michelangeli suffered from stage fright.  You might be right.  But I always put it to artistic caution.  If he wasn't in 100% playing condition, he would cancel.  (Out of 6 concerts I went to hear, 3 were cancelled)

[pianoplayjl]

Vladimir Ashkenazy had a stage fright. He always jogs to and from the piano during a performance.

[keyboardkat]

Rubinstein was reputed to have terrible stage fright.   He would reduce his poor wife to jello in the cab on the way to the concert.  He would say his fingers are spaghetti, that he will have memory lapses, that he will disgrace himself, that he will never play again.

And then he would come out on stage and do what he did best.   Sometimes he would arrive at the hall just in time for the concert, and throw off his coat in the wings as he walked to the stage.  This way, he didn't have to spend time backstage waiting, which is always torture.

Jorge Bolet had a strange adaptation to stage fright.  He played slower.  Most of us play faster when our pulse is racing.  His first performance of the Liszt Sonata took 45 minutes!  In later years, though, he said he just had some uneasiness, which dissipated once he entered the stage and started playing.

[49410enrique]

Percy Grainger was a prodigious concert pianist and performed throughout his career. He had a love/hate relationship with the piano, considering it a “nasty percussion instrument,” and struggled with stage fright and feelings of inadequacy as a performer.

[pianoplayjl]

I think that everybody, in a greater or lesser degree, suffers "stage fright".

Some famous pianists with a notable stage fright: Frédéric Chopin, Glenn Gould (he retired from stage at 31), Vladimir Horowitz (retired several times, with also several famous returns) and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli (there were really famous his last hour concert cancellations).

Quite true. From what I've read form Wikipedia, in one performance, horowitz had to be pushed on stage. All pianists must have had stage fright during their first few performances, while others continually still have it, although they might disguise it. As for me, stage fright is a catalyst for me making errors in my playing. 1 error is enough to bring down an entire playing.

Percy Grainger was a prodigious concert pianist and performed throughout his career. He had a love/hate relationship with the piano, considering it a “nasty percussion instrument,” and struggled with stage fright and feelings of inadequacy as a performer.

[christefan]

If one error is bringing down your playing, focus on playing MUCH more musically and quit demanding and playing in a way where each note is of supreme importance.  Most concert pianists make mistakes and certainly Horowitz did which seemingly hasn't affected his status in these forums, as it shouldn't. Only notewise players who take very few chances with their tempo or interpretation may not make mistakes, for musicains the mistakes hopefully and up buried in a great musical performance that people remember for it drama, passion and intelligence.

[claude_debussy]

Deep preparation is the best way to handle stage fright. 

Then, zen meditation.  It's not about you.  Become the music. 

Still, a very great artist I turned pages for once in a chamber concert was shaking so hard I couldn't believe his hands were finding the right notes. 

But he didn't make a mistake.

[ramibarniv]

Does anyone know of famous pianists who suffer from stage fright?
For me it is a major obstacle and it affects my playing dramatically every time I perform publicly.

If you wanted a discussion on the subject, you got it.
Or were you asking for help...?
There are 2 main issues to stage fright: 1) Preparation. 2) The actual anxiety.
I also divide preparation into 2 parts: a) Learning and getting the material to a performance level.
b) Endless run-throughs.
1a) You got to be prepared, know your material backwards and forwards, even in the middle of the night or while asleep... have it analyzed from all aspects, know it at half speed and at "double" speed, with your eyes open and closed, at the keyboard and off the keyboard, etc.
1b) Run-through the material in front of any audience possible, from your dog to a few people at church, at your place or visiting friends/family, old age home or small party, etc. A tape recorder is audience too...
You have to be prepared 200%, this way if for whatever reason you lose 100% you still have 100% left.
2) Practice Yoga, Meditation, Alexander, Feldenkrais, etc.
If all that doesn't help and you have physical symptoms of anxiety i.e. sweaty hands, see a doctor about beta blockers. They are not going to make you play better, nor help you be prepared better. They are going to enable you to realize your potential and perform to the standard you have prepared yourself.
Best,
Rami
https://pianofingering.tripod.com/
https://ramisrhapsody.tripod.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/barniv
https://www.ybarniv.com/Rami

[asuhayda]

I remember stories of Horowitz being physically shoved onto stage before performances...

I think a lot of people get stage fright.  Piano is SO difficult with such a high margin of error and during a solo, you're the ONLY one making the music.  Lots of pressure.

I think we've all been there.  It's something I deal with all the time. (haha, but I'm not famous  )

[iansinclair]

And it's not just pianists.  My daughter in law, prima ballerina/etoile for one of Canada's top national companies (now retired) got stage fright so badly she couldn't eat for hours before a performance, and had to be helped by her husband (also a principle dancer) to get ready.  In spite of which (or because?) her performances were always stunning.

And the list of both dancers and singers with varying degrees of stage fright just goes on and on.

I have always thought that if you don't get at least a little twinge of stage fright that you are not engaging with the performance and the audience.  But maybe that's just me, justifying my own stage fright!

[davidjosepha]

Deep preparation is the best way to handle stage fright. 

Then, zen meditation.  It's not about you.  Become the music. 

Still, a very great artist I turned pages for once in a chamber concert was shaking so hard I couldn't believe his hands were finding the right notes. 

But he didn't make a mistake.

I have the shaking hands problem, but I end up making tons of mistakes. I played Rachmaninoff's Prelude op. 23/5 for my school the second to last day of high school, the first time I had played for the school since 6th grade. My hands were shaking so badly, when I got to the top of the second page (in the Boosey & Hawkes), the second theme of the march section, instead of sounding like a beautiful fanfare sounded more like Schoenberg! It didn't help that the piano I was playing on had such heavy key weight that I could barely push them down...Thankfully, when I reached the middle section, I managed to calm down and play it quite beautifully, and the second time around the march, I was able to play it as close to flawlessly as I ever have. I even nailed the descending octaves after the fanfare, something I had been struggling to do even when practicing alone. The adrenaline did sorta hit me hard though, and I ended up playing the final quiet ascension of the piece at about 150 bpm instead of the 100-108 I had played the rest of the piece at, and probably too loud too, although I don't know for sure...All in all, the piece went about as bad as I ever could've predicted, yet I was a bit of an icon for the school for the last two days of class. I think people just liked it because it was fast and loud and exciting, which, now that I think about it, aren't terrible reasons to like something

Talking about that was rather therapeutic. I've just got to say, knowing how nervous these other performers get makes me feel better about my own issues. If these pianists can have as bad of stage fright as I have, or worse, and still play a hundred times better than me, I have no excuse. I just need to prepare more.

If all that doesn't help and you have physical symptoms of anxiety i.e. sweaty hands, see a doctor about beta blockers. They are not going to make you play better, nor help you be prepared better. They are going to enable you to realize your potential and perform to the standard you have prepared yourself.

I've thought about using beta blockers. It's really tempting, but I'd like to solve the problem instead of just covering it up. I don't know if I'll ever be able to solve it completely, but it's something to work for. It seems a bad idea, to me, to jump to beta blockers as an easy solution, instead of waiting to use them as a last resort.

I guess a gulp of whiskey would work too, you know, "to take the edge off".

[ramibarniv]

davidjosepha, you quoted me saying: "If all that doesn't help and you have physical symptoms of anxiety..."
I did suggest beta blockers as the last resort, after you've tried and done everything else!
If I were you, I would not go the gulp of whiskey way!
Using beta blockers is not covering up the problem, it is solving it.
But remember you first got to be prepared 200%.
Best,
Rami
https://pianofingering.tripod.com/
https://ramisrhapsody.tripod.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/barniv
https://www.ybarniv.com/Rami

[davidjosepha]

davidjosepha, you quoted me saying: "If all that doesn't help and you have physical symptoms of anxiety..."
I did suggest beta blockers as the last resort, after you've tried and done everything else!
If I were you, I would not go the gulp of whiskey way!
Using beta blockers is not covering up the problem, it is solving it.
But remember you first got to be prepared 200%.
Best,
Rami

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply that you were suggesting them as the first idea. The issue is, beta blockers solve the problem temporarily, but you have to keep taking them before every performance. You are now just reliant on them, and if you don't have them, you can't function for a performance. What if over time, you develop a tolerance (I don't know if that's possible with beta blockers)? What if you have some negative side effects? I think it's a bad idea to become so reliant on medicine that you couldn't perform without it.

[ramibarniv]

davidjosepha, "You are now just reliant on them, and if you don't have them, you can't function for a performance." But you already can't function for a performance. BB can only improve your situation. Do youself a favor, speak to your doctor and learn more about it. then make your mind up. I heard great testimonies from people who've been using it. BTW, I left out another thing to try before BB, hypnosis. Good luck,
Rami
https://pianofingering.tripod.com/
https://ramisrhapsody.tripod.com/
https://www.youtube.com/user/barniv
https://www.ybarniv.com/Rami

[piano_vs_science]

For me it is a major obstacle and it affects my playing dramatically every time I perform publicly.

i have the same problem
only a hundred times worse

maybe I could start by playing in front of animals?

[maczip]

This is interesting to hear, that very famous and brilliant pianists suffer(ed) from stage fright. Seems to be kind of normal. It is the way to cope with in order to overcome.

To be quite honest: I decided not to study piano/organ because of terrible stage fright. When I was 16, I had to quit a short performance, because I got so dizzy (due to anxiety) that I couldn´t remember what to play. (Surely, I could have learnt my Beethoven better, then.) It was one of the most embarrassing situations in my life. I remember, there was a sudden loss of concentration and sudden intimidating thought about what would happen, when I would going to make a mistake. It was a distraction of mind and concentration due to anxious self reflection, away from the music and the material. I am sure, it has something to to with self esteem and self attribution of success or doubt...

Today I give scientific talks, and experience kind of stage fright too. But the material to talk about is much more simple, it hasn´t as much to to with my person, it´s just scientific stuff. So it works.

Good luck

[keyboardkat]

My own teacher, the late David Bradshaw, used beta blockers and recommended them.  He said it was "asinine" NOT to take them.
I tried inderal for performance anxiety and I have to tell you, it makes a VERY big difference.  You can walk out on stage without your hands feeling cold and shakey, without the butterflies in the stomach.  You can actually focus on the music and communicating with the audience without the interference of those pesky nerves!
I know of law school graduates who take Inderal before the Bar Exam.  It's marvelous.  Only, you should not take it if you have low blood pressure because it could kill you!

[sevencircles]

Alkan had a remarkable stagefright and retired etremely early.

I have also heard stories that he had incredible motorics and reflexes and that´s the reason for the extremely fast tempos he sometimes had in his works. He could play all his works uptempo  without making a mistake but only in private.

[adari]

Alkan had a remarkable stagefright and retired etremely early.

I have also heard stories that he had incredible motorics and reflexes and that´s the reason for the extremely fast tempos he sometimes had in his works. He could play all his works uptempo  without making a mistake but only in private.

I think it's very unlikely that Alkan had significant stagefright. After all, he voluntarily returned to the concert platform, later in his life, playing every week for roughly ten years.
It's more likely that Alkan's first retirement was largely an effect of his failure at securing the senior piano-teaching position at the Conservatoire de Paris. If you read his letters on the subject, they're very dark and compelling.
If I remember correctly, one of the letters is read out, here: