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Polish pianist Zimerman causes a stir

PR dla Zagranicy
Paweł Kononczuk 05.04.2016 17:37
World-famous Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman caused a sensation during his recital in the Italian town of Macerata earlier this week.
Photo: Flickr.com/Anton Vakulenko
Photo: Flickr.com/Anton Vakulenko

Instead of performing on his own Steinway, as is his long-established custom, he decided to choose an old instrument he discovered backstage at the Teatro Lauro Rossi, the recital venue.

Helped by piano tuner Antonino Rappoccio, with whom he has collaborated for six years, Zimerman dismantled the instrument, made the necessary adjustments, put it all back together and found it of sufficient quality to use it in his performance on 2 April.

The local press has applauded the Polish pianist for his gesture, saying that thanks to him the Teatro Lauro Rossi can now be proud of having a grand piano of excellent quality.

Zimerman has long been known as a musician who makes a point of adjusting his piano shortly before performing to achieve the best sound possible in each concert hall.

Zimerman, who turns 60 in December, skyrocketed to international fame after winning the Chopin Competition in Warsaw in 1975.

He has collaborated with the greatest conductors of our time, including Bernstein, Karajan, Boulez, Mehta and Rattle.

For over two decades now he has been going on tour with his own concert piano, to which he has applied several technical modifications of his own. (mk/pk)

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