Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut

Poland's Krystian Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists in the world, created a furor Sunday night in his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall when he announced this would be his last performance in America because of the nation's military policies overseas.

Before playing the final work on his recital, Karol Szymanowski’s "Variations on a Polish Folk Theme," Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice that did not project well, he indicated that he could no longer play in a country whose military wants to control the whole world. 

“Get your hands off of my country,” he said.  He also made reference to the U.S. military detention camp in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.  

About 30 or 40 people in the audience walked out, some shouting obscenities.  “Yes,” he answered, “some people when they hear the word military start marching.”

Others remained but booed or yelled for him to shut up and play the piano.  But many more cheered.  Zimerman responded by saying that America has far finer things to export than the military, and he thanked those who support democracy.

For the first half of the recital, Zimerman had played a Bach Partita and Beethoven’s last piano sonata, Opus 111, with firm determination.  After intermission he made a last minute substitution, exchanging late Brahms works for a 1953 sonata by Polish composer Grazyna Bacewicz.  The Szymanowski variations, which closed the program, was played with an astonishing ferocity that brought nothing but tumultuous cheers.  There was no encore.

The pianist was not available after the concert for further comment.

Zimerman has had problems in the United States in recent years.  He travels with his own Steinway piano, which he has altered himself.  But shortly after 9/11, the instrument was confiscated at JFK Airport when he landed in New York to give a recital at Carnegie Hall.  Thinking the glue smelled funny, the TSA decided to take no chances and destroyed the instrument.  Since then he has shipped his pianos in parts, which he reassembles by hand after he lands.  He also drives the truck himself when he carries his instrument from city to city over land, as he did after playing a recital in Berkeley on Friday.

MONDAY UPDATE: Review: Krystian Zimerman's controversial appearance at Disney Hall 

TUESDAY UPDATE: What led to Krystian Zimerman's surprising comments, walkouts

-- Mark Swed

Photo: Krystian Zimerman in 2005. Credit: Kasslara.

Comments

[Roland Ansgar]

Foolish, ignorant, arrogant Amerikans. You are so ignorant that you can't even see that your country has been taken away from you under your very noses. It will have to go down as one of the greatest schemes of theft in the history of the world.

I salute Krystian Zimerman's courage for speaking the truth!

Curse the TSA henchmen who destroyed Zimerman's piano. It was an act one might have expected from some tin-pot dictatorship in Africa. But NO!, it happened here, under our own tin-pot dictatorship. And, look!--we have a new version of the same, in the White House.

[Jack Burton]

I guess it's pretty simple. If you don't us, don't come back. I won't miss you and you won't miss me.

I just hope you have the moral convictions to do the same thing in Iran or China. I'm sure you can find something to not like about them and I'm sure you'll be treated just as cordially there as you were here.

Or maybe you won't.

[Jack Burton]

How many billions of US dollars were spent to rebuild Europe after WWII? How many billions of US dollars were spent defending Europe after WWII for the Soviet Union? I would expect a little gratitude, but I guess it's in short supply these days.

I understand the hate from the rest of the world, it comes with the territory, and part of me likes it. We are so all consuming in your lives you that spent much of it worry about what we're doing. Funny, I haven't spent a minute in the past year wondering what Poland is doing.

But what does baffle me is the Americans here that have such a passionate hatred for this nation. Just as you accuse the people who love this country being brainwashed, I would throw that right back at you. Your minds have been infected by the liberal latte self hatred that is becoming so prevalent in our society. Sad, really.

[Jess Abell]

I find it interesting reading these comments how disdain these "real" Americans have for some one else's freedom of speech.

[Vodka]

Jack,

Not at all sad, but educational and good. Liberal is good too. It comes directly from word Liberty, which as we all know, assuming we we restart our thinking process, is now in very short supply in the US. In America, a traffic infraction if not dealt with results in an automatic arrest warrant. You speed and you will be treated like a criminal. In Europe we deal with those matters in a much more civilized matter. We do not handcuff citizens for missing a stop sign. We find it excessive and inhuman. I was detained a few times by your idiots at the airport for answering the question "what do you do for living" with "none of your business!".

Few posts above, someone said that America has slipped from under the noses of the Americans. It is very true. Now, for the few stubborn, remember, nobody said that because she is your mother you have to love her.

[Jack Burton]

Vodka,

I'm not sure you have the correct view of what life is like here. The last time I dealt with the police unless it was because a friend who is a police officer was in 1991 for running a stop sign. I was treated with respect, paid my ticket, and never heard from them again. It is likely that I can go the rest of my life without being arrested, treated like a criminal, etc., because I chose not to break the law.

There is a large divide in this country right now, and it's between people who believe in American exceptionalism and those who don't. I do, and the president does not. My beliefs are well founded, although detestable to most of you outside our borders, and many within these days.

No disrespect to others, but we don't get nearly the credit we deserve for the good things we do. Quite frankly I don't care to be lectured by Europeans, ever. For fifty years Europe developed their socialist paradise hanging out in coffee shops and working 30 hours per week while our soldiers guarded you from the Soviet Union. That's not revisionist American history, that is a fact.

We spent trillions in today's dollars rebuilding and defending Europe and lost well over 500,000 soldiers in two world wars cleaning up your mess. People on this site say that we sat out for three years in WWII. Guess what folks, we're not the ones who started two world wars and allowed the worst genocide that this world has ever known to occur. What a coincidence that the worst of the worst happened in Poland. You guys couldn't even go 20 years without doing it again. Again, don't lecture us with that amount of death and carnage on your hands.

We rescued Asia from Imperial Japan. Korea, the Phillipines and China were decimated by the Japanese and they can thank us, in large part, for their freedom today. I know that everyone wants to dismiss all this because it happened over 60 years ago, but too bad, we remember it and we still have soldiers alive today who fought in Europe and the Pacific.

We are by far the most generous nation on this planet in terms of donations from individuals for charity. When the tsunami hit in 2004, our soldiers were flying in food, water and medical supplies before the UN had even checked into their $1,000 a night hotels. Despite the fact that we had no vested interest in lifting a finger to help. We pour billions into Africa, and are the single largest nation donor to the palestinians.

I realize that many don't like us, but many of you have no idea what we are really like because your view is warped by your leftist press and leftist leadership.

Trust me, there is nothing I would rather do than bring all our soldiers and resources home forever and leave the rest of the world to handle their problems without the meddling United States of America. We'll just do what we do over here and let you sort it all out. God willing that day ever comes, I look forward to you all letting us know how it's working out.

[Jack Burton]

And to Jess,

At least we're not afraid to print cartoons.

[Who Izzy]

Glad I never heard of him...

[kinskyart]

Mr Lemanski, Mr Thompto and the rest of ignorants - read about Yalta. And shut up.

[Janusz]

Isn't this country speech free? Then he had right to say whatever he wanted to say. It wasn't against us ppl but against politics. It was his opinion and what he said wasn't lie. "Stay away from Poland" means do not install anti ballistic missiles. Would you like to have one of those missiles installed 5 miles from your home? Europe does not have Montana or Nevada with their empty spaces. Besides, that anti missile project will divide polish ppl and will spark Russians revenge, since they think we install this system against them.
This is not my personal opinion, this is what I hear from Polish ppl.

[Justyna Ball]

There are some interesting comments by few people here, the ignorance comes out, the hatred towards Poles shows well. Also shows the level of knowledge of the facts of WWII, this is what people in US know (from well promoted books , media, ) this is not a joke, they are serious, no wonder why they vote for Bush twice..
You'll be surprised how little people around here know about WWII in Europe. The American media give more space to ...the tree growing outside Anne Frank's window than millions of Poles who lost their lives in the holocaust. Krystian is right, Polish people do not need any foreign military bases, Soviet or American. By the way, just so you know, well known (in Europe) and wealthy, Mr Zimerman does not need money, although some of the "commentators" need to take lessons on European history, but from Europeans not FOX news.

[wesman345kv]

Mr Alek,Mr Thomko,Mr Lemanski & Mr exPole:
If ALL of Eastern Europe was not sold out at Yalta we would not be having this history lesson.
Do not forget "artists " have these opinions sadly even US artists.
Please do yourselves a favor and look up these names, do not get hung up on their pronunciation.
1.Tadeusz Kosciuszko
2.Kazimierz Pulaski
3.General Wladyslaw Anders
4Ryszard Kuklinski

[me]

he´s right!!!!
respect mr.zimerman,we need more people like you and less dumb agressive suckers!!!

[Larry Murray]

Pianist Zimerman's comments were out of place at a concert, but this is still a country whose Bill of Rights guarantees the freedom of speech which he exercised. The audience was correct in responding in turn, and I am sure everyone was quite awake and paying attention to that last piece he played.

That Homeland Security destroyed his piano - and likely his soul along with it - is just typical of the last administration's lack of common sense. That its repercussions continue to echo, and, yes, Guantanamo continues to exist, will continue to plague us for years to come.

This is just another uncomfortable reminder that actions have their consequences.

[John Silliman Dodge]

Obviously, the artist can say or do as he pleases. And I doubt that this was an impulsive act of petulance. We won't stop playing his music on All Classical FM in Portland, even as he disdains to come visit. JSD

[Vodka]

Jack,

Most importantly one has to view Europe in her specificities. Western, sometimes viewed as socialist Europe in some peoples opinions (i.e. France with government support of some industry segments like EADS) is fundamentally different from the status of Poland within the old continent. I agree with you to certain extent about the 30 hour week and largely different than in the US social benefits, but please take into account the higher tax bracket, which as any democracy is a direct result of peoples wants. It is a simple compromise. You will also learn that in example the Dutch according to polls are the happiest society despite much higher taxes paid by all individuals in that country. Democracy like the US, but with a significantly different mechanism of entrusting the government’s role. It would be yet another debate concerning what is better for each given society. Homeless people and low taxes or larger deduction from paychecks and secured medical assistance and lack of marshals removing a family from your home when defaulting on loans.

It is also true that without the US Europe would not be what it is today, but this is more applicable to western EU countries which thrive with their manufacturing on the largest consumer market: USA. Poland in this calculation has little to do with the scheme. Other of course that significant private financial resources surfacing after the fall in 1989 had their source in hard working Polish migrants from places like Chicago, New York, Canada and Australia. Western Europe not being a significant factor here.

Poland, you must understand, has always been as a Slovak country much different from its current western partners and did not historically share its appetite for invasion, colonization, was largely a peaceful country, but its geographical position was a difficult one and created large opportunities for other nations with expansion ambition. This factor was always a problem for Poles who experiences attacks from Turks, Sweden, Germany, Russia, and simplifying, was later a bargaining chip in establishing at Yalta the post WWII world order.

Poles were not aggressors, they were largely victims. America has done as much good as bad, both activities somewhat complementing one another. Arming Saddam and the Middle East, Panama as well later turn to be fatal and contrary (perhaps not) to the interests of the US profiting from supplying armament to the above. Every deal is a compromise, and selling military supplies is a very profitable business, it employs millions of Americans and it is difficult to walk away from. But it is also a perpetual problem, nevertheless very liked and enjoyed by suppliers. In my view the best sidekick here is the technology spin off to consumer good that we learned to like so much to play with. Another compromise.

Donations take place to in essence reasonably pacify the acts of the suppliers so closely cooperating with the US government and nothing more nor less. It’s that simple.

[wesman345kv]

Mr.Alek&Mr Thompto, if ALL of Eastern Europe wasn't sold out at Yalta we would not be
having this informal tutoring session.
Do not forget "artists " have these opinions even sadly US artists.
Please do yourselves a favor and look up these names, and their historic significance, do not
get hung up on the pronunciation of the names .
1.Tadeusz Kosciuszko
2.Kazimierz Pulaski
3.General Wladyslaw Anders
4 Polish Pilots involved in the Battle of Britain.
5.The Nadolny Brothers of New Britain CT, 6 of them served in WW2
6. Ryszard Kuklinski
And lastly as one of the USA's steadfast Allies,why do Polish people have such a strict quota
to enter the US

[Pete]

Guys,
Apparently Mr. Zimerman has an issues with the US policies and practicies and in all honesty - he is likely not entirely wrong on that. Some of the actions that the US conducted abroad in the past several decades were really aggressive, self-centered and immoral. On the other hand the US is helping out so many countries with humanitarian aid, legitimate and justified military support etc that this whole international policy thing is rather a mixed bag of good and bad. One thing Mr Zimerman could do better is not come to the US if he has a serious moral issues with giving concerts here, end of story. Things aren't just white or black here, so lets chiil out and try to see both sides.

[AntArVe]

It is very difficult for me to witness tons of chaotic demagoguery presented in these comments and stay calm.
First of all the fear of the Russian anger is baseless. For decades the soviet military bases in Poland never angered their opponents. Why should be different in the opposite situation?
Polish government should take advantage of the strategical attractiveness of their territory, and lease grounds for military bases to any country interested in that.
It would stabilize Poland politically and economically much more, than always uncertain, demanding, and ecologically risky foreign business investments or tourism.
Not only Russia and U.S.A., but also China, Turkey, and many other countries may become easy and rewarding clients.

[Lietuvis]

Yes, he is so right... Americans should have not intervened during WW ll- perhaps Zimerman never would have been born.