by Cecilia Mureanu
How important is a musician`s scene look nowadays? Could have Clara Haskil become, in the 21st century, the star of a big record company?
In my opinion, a “made up” look can be helpful for someone`s career, but it is not enough. It can be a good marketing strategy, but it cannot replace value. To give a specific answer, I would say that yes, I like to believe that, even today, Clara Haskil could have become the star of a record company, like other pianists who did not play the shallow “looks” card.
It is true – today, there are some artists who focus mainly on their physical appearance as a first impact on their public. The public is reacting to many impulses and, certainly, an out of the ordinary look is something very strong, but I have experienced several times this “magic” feeling of interacting with the public and I can say for sure that the people react to a stronger impulse, and that is Music and its true communication force.
I may be a dreamer, but I would love to see an artist whose “obligatory figure” is imposed only by the repertoire of the given occasion – and he dresses up as Şostakovici or Debussy, depending on the role he plays.
Do you collect anything? Is there a field, an activity where you like to “evade” to?
Maybe it sounds completely uninspired, but while I was a teenager I started collecting famous recordings. I stopped at one point, it is true that the explosion of the internet had a decisive role on that, and recently I use to listen to them less and less. I might say that I am searching for that “something” to evade to. Maybe there are still things inside me left for me to discover…
If you didn`t choose music, what other field you would have aimed for?
It is hard to say it, but probably tennis. I took a few lessons when I was a child and I remember that it fascinated me. The violin won, and I am glad it did. The difference between tennis and music can be found probably in the stake of the competition... In tennis, the final aim is to beat the opponent and there is always the pressure of winning the big prize. But, it is clear that I rediscover myself in music more than in anything else; in music, the stake is the competition with the self and the temptation of getting material things is yet a bit smaller. At least for some people…
„I believe music represents the evidence that the man is worth living“
Is classical music for everyone or does it address only a small group of initiated people? Is it an art for the elites? Is it necessary to be educated in order to be able to “understand” the message conveyed by this music?
I believe that music helps us build our identity, it relieves our sufferings, it makes us smile or dance. We all know this amazing power of music, but we rarely speak of it. I also believe that only music can create an atmosphere in just a few seconds and can tell a story in just a few notes. It is true, the music has a mystery of its own, one that troubles us and makes us meditate. I believe music represents the evidence that the man is worth living and music is the only thing that can truly unite us.
Are there works that interest you, that you like, but you think you will never get the chance to play?
Yes, Puccini`s works. I play in a symphonic orchestra and the chances to produce an opera play written by the Italian maestro are very small. Though, I hope it will happen one day.
What would you recommend to a young man who would want to get closer to classical music?
I grew up with Mozart`s piano concerts that my mother would listen to while working. Ivona, my sister, had also studied the piano. We would have classical music all the time in the house. Very rarely I would stop to listen carefully, but I believe this whole ambiance had opened a gate for me to this dimension.
Whose disciple you would have loved to be?
From this point of view I feel fulfilled. Konrad von Abel is a German conductor who was Sergiu Celibidache`s assistant in München. The encounter with this musician has provided a clear orientation perspective in the musical universe, discovering its forces and their effect on us, the humans.
What is the most important musical event of your life?
Importance involves a choice, and choices are not my strength. In fact, I am not really the adept of hierarchies… Of course, there are some concerts more important than others, but once you get to a certain level, music speaks about music and the concerts are just a consequence of the need for a speech.
What musician do you deeply respect?
Konrad von Abel, Radu Lupu, Krystian Zimerman.
Do you also listen to other musical genres?
I listen to almost everything; from electronic music to rock, blues, jazz, fado and many others. As long as music has a message, it doesn`t matter the means used to express its message. Quality is all that matters.
