Declining Great Pianists

I don't really understand how Ivo Pogorelich has gone so low. His early recording, the controversial Chopin sonata, really set me to fire. His sound doesn't vary as much as some of the more prominent pianist, yet somehow, I don't know why but probably the way he phrased it and his deep passion, touches me deeply. A few years ago, he went to Hong Kong for a performance. I haven't heard anything from him other than that Chopin and Ravel CD, so I expected a lot and attend the concert, which is quite a rare occasion for me as a research student with not much income. Yet, he first cancelled the Scriabin sonata (probably no.5. Forgot....), a piece I was looking forward to. He played Scriabin's Fantasy op. 28 so slow and lacking passion, that it's absurd if not down right poor. He was trying to play each note so carefully, that you would just wonder why he didn't just choose to play a Debussy prelude. I thought perhaps he's just sick. But he didn't see to have any great record for any years. It contrasts strikingly with another performance by Lang Lang (another pianist who seem to be declining......) I went to during those years. He played Rachmaninov's sonata no. 2, which looked like the focus. BUt No. When he played Robert Schuman Abegg Variations, within the first few notes, I could feel a cold current flowing through my body. There was never such a quality I got from a pieces as simple as that. Some months later, I read an article written by a local writer who was there that day. He, too, mentioned that Schuman piece stroke him deeply. It may not be a Schuman style, but who cares? Later, I got Lang Lang's other recording. His playing seems to be more exaggerated, but the passion seems to be going down. Earlier, and more famous examples include Kissin.... Is there a reason for their decline? Or is it just a musical mind turning inward, that their playing become more personal? Or perhaps early success, and the lack of further stimulation, knock them down the road? Alvin

I used to think Pogorelich burned out from being forced to play too many concerts too soon, before his soul could mature enough to meet the demands of 200 recitals a year. But I think it's his personality combined with his illness. He is so convinced of the worth of his own interpretations that he will follow a single idea to an absurd extreme. To my mind it is all calculated, so that seeming Romantic passion that swept me off my feet at the beginning was only an act - unfortunately. I still have great respect for him as a colleague, but cannot abide his playing! I think that those who improve with age simply put the right ingredients in from the start - real musicianship, real consideration of the composer's intentions, real listening to their own sound and expression... It is interesting to listen to the 'new crop' now and predict which ones will have burnt out in 20 years or which ones will be that much more satisfying to listen to... AFF