Best Ears in the House?

[m1469]

I am curious ... whose ears do you think are the best in the house and what do you think qualifies them as such?  Do you feel you have thee keenest listening ability in an average house as audience?  As performer?  I started thinking about this in relation to a subject that rattles around in my head sometimes.  Somebody I used to know used to tell me that, as a performer, I knew the piece best and that this should give me a sense of comfort on the stage while performing ... it never, ever did (because I never believed it).  Some people say you should "play to the best ears of the house" ...

I thought today, just now, that even if there are ears in the house which are better than mine on a general level, perhaps I ought to aim to have mine be the best in the house for the pieces I am performing (is it possible?) ... and in that sense, going back to what the person I used to know would tell me, have it become true that I know the piece best out of anybody in there.

Thanks  

[pianowolfi]

I know this saying as "Play for the ideal listener".

But even then, I think at the moment you perform...there's only the event that counts. If there are listeners or not. If you are "perfect" or not. If you care about if you are "perfect" or not. It has to happen, inevitably.

Let it happen and have fun!

[ajspiano]

Interesting question!

I listened to that kyrstian zimmerman radio interview not too long ago, I remember him saying something along the lines of "music is not sound, music is using sound to arrange peoples emotions in time" - such an idea may qualify all those who "feel" anything through listening as the equal best ears..

Whenever I perform though I feel like its just for me, I have to feel it and express it. Then the listeners will hear and absorb my expression. I don't consciously attempt to cultivate their experience, rather I just share my own..   maybe I need to work on the other side of the coin?