Strange Dichotomy

Dear Mr.Fraser, Please forgive me to write to you so unexpectedly.I have aquestion for yo. I have been your admirer for many years, I studied your wonderful book, which helped me and my friends a lot..I traveled to see you in Montreal this summer...then i realized you can't play sweet dick at all. How is that possible? A man withsuch immense knowledge...or is it just a clever fake? I can not understand this and it is tormenting me.One would suppose before helping others you would help yourself first...please explain. NB. I don't deny you certain maudlin musicalitybut I am really concerned. Please help me.. In light, Garnett

Evidently you heard my recital at Pollack Hall June 2. Reactions to that recital have been wildly contradictory. I had many compliments from people who said they have never heard piano played with such presence, drama, colour, expression - many were 'blown away' in the positive sense of the word. Others said that my playing was self-indulgent and lacked rhythmic clarity. I myself understand both sides. I misjudged the acoustics in the hall (it has been over 15 years since I played there last) and on the recording you can hear certain basses I thought were audible actually being lost in the acoustic, leading to a sense of rushing and lack of rhythmic stability. However you also hear on the recording a lot of tonal colour and 'dramatic lyricism' that I created intentionally. Also the Mozart was new and I had trouble both with the mechanics of the instrument and with nerves - it's most difficult to play in one's home town - so some of the passagework was not up to scratch. Furthermore, if I had been the kind of pianist from the beginning whose fingers flew with unerring accuracy, I most likely would never have developed my whole approach - I never would have had to think about all that stuff, I would have simply been able to do it. If you are one of those guys who spits all over Horowitz on YouTube, or who, like Leslie Howard, thinks that the things Horowitz does with Mozart are simply unacceptable, then you and I will never see eye to eye. However if you see me going for a certain interpretation and not succeeding 100% then I understand where you are coming from. I have a musical vision for the works I play, and I take risks in order to make that vision sound. Sometimes the risk doesn't pay off and then I pay the price. Thanks for your kind comments about my book, and thanks for your really genuine concern. Don't worry, I am not a clever fake! However, it easier to help others than oneself! My playing has evolved a great deal over the years, and I like to keep it in a state of evolution. The trouble with this is that it is virtually never 'polished' and thus more easily criticized. I think your criticism is overly severe, but I know why you made it. Thanks for your sincere post! AFF

Dear Mr.Fraser, I appreciate your thoughtful and measured reply. I was more surprised than critical. I know at least 5 other people who own your book and who are delighted with its contents and style. It was my first contact with your music-making and I expected much more technical finish, given that you studied subject of piano technique so much. If I compare your technical level with that of Yundi Li, Evgeny Kissin or Lang Lang, then I think they are definitely much more accomplished. It could have been one of "those bad days", but my feeling was that you haven't practiced enough, especially when it comes to rhythmical definition. Maybe with your busy schedule there wasn't enough time to prepare the programme? Again, your explanation sounds reasonable enough...I am glad you are not a "clever fake" but a "genuine stuff", whatever it happens to be. I will continue to follow your work with undiminished interest. In light, Garnett

With regard to my "technical finish" vs. my musicianship: I was told on the one hand that Kemal has influenced me too much and that I should play less extravagantly, while on the other hand I should have played through my program for him to sharpen it up a little... Go figure... AFF