Stage Presence

While performing, I keep my movements simple. I've never been one to swoon and look to the heavens while playing. I work very hard to convey meaning in my sound, but find most pianists' theatrics distracting and annoying. Perhaps, Alexis Weissenberg says it best

“You cannot lose your control physically and be precise as to what your hands do. Can you imagine a surgeon operating on somebody, and swooning and looking up at the ceiling and being very excited about it? The patient would die. That is what happens in music too. The patient dies, because there’s too much going on besides the actual performance.” -Alexis Weissenberg, pianist

This amazing Bulgarian pianist died on Sunday at the age of 82. Click here for the New York Times article.

And to judge his playing and stage presence for yourself:

Alexis Weissenberg plays Chopin

Alexis Weissenberg plays Schumann

Alexis Weissenberg plays Bach