Pogorelich's refusal of the Great Pianists series

[cziffra]

I read somewhere (i think it was you, Bernard) that Pogorelich was supposed to be one of the pianists featured in the Great Pianists of the 20th century series, but he refused.  I imagined that he had some ideological reason for objecting but i can't figure out what that would be- what would be so bad about that much exposure and recognition?

[thracozaag]

  The project was ill-conceived from the beginning; many, many great pianists were left off and the engineering job was shoddy overall.

koji (STSD)

[bernhard]

I read somewhere (i think it was you, Bernard) that Pogorelich was supposed to be one of the pianists featured in the Great Pianists of the 20th century series, but he refused.  I imagined that he had some ideological reason for objecting but i can't figure out what that would be- what would be so bad about that much exposure and recognition?

No, it was not me.

I actually mentioned Pogorelich as an example of a pianist that should have been selected and was not. Then someone else (maybe it was Thracozaag) mentioned that he had actually been selected but refused. Like you, I was very surprised, and would be very interested in the reasons he gave.

I think Pogorelich is a supremely interesting pianist and I always look forward to his releases (I particularly like his Gaspard and his Scarlatti). I have heard that he has grown increasingly odd in live concerts of late, playing at excruciatingly slow tempos.

Best wishes,
Bernhard.

[Spatula]

I cannot stand slow performances, and I feel so far Idil Biret pushes that, but at least she manages to keep some form of rhythm in it, despite the audience having to readjust, knowing this isn't say... Richter or the super fasties. 

[BoliverAllmon]

yeah pogo has gone off the slow end. Really slow end. not sure why either.

[kempff]

I really can't understand, what some pianists are thinking when they  have for sure heard 10 million other pianists play a piece fast, and then they go and do it ultra-slow??

[julie391]

from what i gather - 'pogo' is a somewhat perplexing and unusual character.

both personally and musically it seems!

however, i do admire experimentation, even tasteless experimentation - ala lang lang

its when i keep hearing the same things done with the same pieces that i begin getting bored

[faulty_damper]

Well, regardless of how slow he played, he still recieved much applause for his performance.

"Maybe if I play twice as slow, they would still applaud?"

I bet people would.

[julie391]

obviously, they are classical fans after all - the polite type