[lit-ideas] Re: Kempff and Completeness


On 25. Sep 2006, at 18:39, Eric Yost wrote:

The artistic question is what is the value of a complete set of __________ by a performer? Is there something about the mindset of a "complete set" player that privileges them above the "pick and choose" performer? 

Interesting questions - which I will sidestep.

But as a counterpart I will relate the story of an '*incomplete* set' performed by one of the greatest musical artists of the 20th century.

The Romanian pianist, Dinu Lipatti, ill with leukaemia and already in serious decline, honoured his commitment to perform at Besancon (16 Sept. 1950 - a recording is available on CD) against the advice of his doctors.

Towards the end of the concert he grew too weak to play the last of the 14 Chopin waltzes. After leaving the stage for a brief respite, he returned to play a piano transcription of a Bach chorale (to which I am at this moment listening) - his last public performance.

He died on Dec. 2nd, 1950 - at the age of 33.

Chris Bruce
Kiel, Germany
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