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

[Herb]

Maybe he takes his piano with him because it's a player piano?

[Joe]

I love seeing emotional comments posted by classical music novices. What a master, scaring people out of the hall before even striking a note. Amazing! He is absolutely right.

[Jim Jones]

I feel stupider for having read most of the comments on this story. I'd like to know how many people in this thread had their money taken by this Polish guy as they suggest in their posts. Take "our" money - talk about a socialist viewpoint.

[ZBognar]

Amazing the comments here. If people really "don't care" about him or the fact that he will never return, then why do they go to his concerts? Do they not have ears for his transcendent artistry? I guess for them politics means more than art, even if art rises above it.

For the record, Zimerman does not hate America. He loves it and always will. That's food for thought to all of you. He even has a home in America.

People who think this was insulting to America represent the idiocy of today, because dissent and discourse is the highest form of patriotism. He spoke out against injustice and hypocrisy. You think you are doing the same. Every viewpoint will be heard regardless.

[guyeichberg]

If you don't like it here, then move. Don't take away a job playing the piano (in which an American could do) and then criticize our nation. I love America. In any other country, they probably would have censured the Zimerman!

[Amellee]

What has Poland ever done for anyone? Where were they during the tsunami? Katrina? 911? When have they ever helped others escape tyranny, oppression, genocide? Mr. Zimerman needs to go read a non Polish history book.... I'll have to research if Poland has ever helped anyone because I've never heard about ANY of their humanitarian efforts, military or otherwise.

[Michael Mellgard]

I believe its OK, even our duty to criticise our country's short comings among ourselves but not for a foreigner to do so, especially if he is a guest here in this country, He was getting paid to perform and not give speeches.

[Palmdale]

Although I didn't agree with what he said, I'm happy that I live in a country that allows people to express their views. Freedom of speech: one of the many things that makes this a great country.

[welcome to the us]

"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. "

[Steve M.]

No wonder this guy is P.O.'ed at the US. I am the farthest thing from a musician, let alone a pianist. I do know some pianists and the love for their pianos is only matched for the loved of the computers I build or tineker with.

TSA (aka thousands sitting on their arses) are ignorant and incompetants personnel that were put into a situation that is unenviable.

A freakin' customized Steinway was destroyed because "the glue smelled funny"? Now he has to assemeble and disassemble a piano before and after a concert. TSA should be replacing the piano and kissing this guy's arse.

I don't agree with Krystian Zimerman's remarks or his using his concert as a forum.

i do understand his frustration and anger, because of the stupidity of a few morons who never bothered to check the paperwork or make an effort to contact the owner of the piano. A freakin' Steinway. What the heck was TSA thinking when they did this? no, They weren't thinking at all.

I wonder how much Johnnie Walker 'Blue Label" was "destroyed" by TSA, becuase it is inflammable.

[a nonny mouse]

who cares? i've never even heard of this guy before. so he doesn't want to play in the u.s.? big deal.

[John]

The Russians will be happy to take Poland back after they finish with Georgia and the Ukraine. When they come knocking on Poland's door, I guess Mr. Zimerman will be the one to answer.

[Johnny Texas]

Someone asked what Poland has done for America, so I'd like to say something good about Poland. In Poland they make very good kielbasa, so I was travelling with one, but when I arrived to America, TSA and a Mexican guy from DOA at the airport confiscated my Polish kielbasa. This was good too, because it is fundamentally important to confiscate (at any cost, even if you have to close the whole airport or even a large city) Polish kielbasa and ham sandwiches and Mexican bananas to ensure national security. Yeeha!!

[Jimmy]

If you go to a Concert, the Performer should not speak on his/her mind about the World. So Zimerman, SHUT THE F*** UP AND PLAY THE PIANO.

[Matt]

He seams a little disingenuous. I think that his father would have been happy that the Americans liberated Europe after WWII using the blood of my American Fathers. And he should be happy that the US won the Cold War without firing a shot inside Poland.

Maybe he should donate all of the money he has made on US concerts to a good cause for peace.

[Thomas]

I'm curious as to how many of you posters actually ATTENDED this concert?

Seems like most of us WHO WERE ACTUALLY THERE enjoyed an outstanding concert and didn't have a problem with Zimmerman being allowed freedom of speech.

Can you NEGATIVE posters please let the rest of us know if you were ACTUALLY THERE or are just talking out of your nether orifices--because if you weren't there you don't really know what was said, the manner in which it was said, etc.

Thank you.

[miket]

If it wasn't for our military, Mr. Zimerman, your country would still be under the iron fist of the Soviet Union. -->That was a time of war. Many countries were involved. I guess that not everyone in US knows about it. World War II finished in 1945.
True enough..so why do the surrender monkeys in Europe bite the hand that feeds them? American forces WILL NEVER leave Europe,any sooner than they will Japan and Korea. Perhaps Mr. Zimerman could push for our withdrawl. Let's see how soon Germany would scream about the loss of income, not to mention wondering what might come next from those wonderful folks in Russia.

[mark from echo park]

Yes, what an awful country we are. And yet - Mr. Zimerman didn't get arrested for sedition?! How odd. Who exactly came up with that whole Freedom of Speech thing anyway? Was that Poland? No wait, it was, hang on, it's coming to me...

[Darius Z]

This forum only proves how right Mr Zimerman was, at what he had said. He clearly stated that: "America has far finer things to export than the military". Identifying inhuman US politics with the American people is only justified to the extend that the ignorant fools uttering their "patriotic" jumble on this forum identify with.

The sad truth is, the empire is collapsing and the king is naked. We as a people have completely lost our moral beacon and have nothing to offer to the world. The world is not stupid and took notice. It would serve us a great deal of good to listen for a change to how we are being perceived and think for a change about what we are doing. The problem is most of us are incapable of accepting the truth and taking criticism.

He delivered his performance so why should he not get paid? Rest assured his talent and fame will fill his coffers anywhere he chooses, without the humiliation of having his piano destroyed. This is how low we have fallen. Why did he wait so long with his statement. Perhaps he had hoped that the current administration would truly be different and do more then merely reposition focus to Afghanistan. He did not realize we are slaves of interests that are not ours.

As to those capable intellects claiming that, if it were not for the US military Poland would still be under communist rule, I wish to remind them that a little learning never hurt anyone. It was not US rockets nor military that made communism collapse. It was the people of Poland their "Solidarity", faith courage and persistence. It was in fact US politics as practiced by president Roosevelt that sold Poland to the Soviets at Yalta in the first place. If anything it was Polish military geniuses and heros, generals Kosciuszko and Pulaski whom we have to thank, that we are not an English colony to this very day. So get off your high horse, loose your ignorance, get some learning, think and try to justify "we are the best" with something that will make it sound true. Ignorance is the biggest enemy of this country. It is not critics but "patriots" as above who are facilitating its downfall. Thank you Mr Zimerman for your courage, honesty and concern!!!

[Marcin]

To those who have criticized him I have one thing to say. How dare you blaming him for what he said being a guest here if your own government constantly keeps telling other nations what they should do and what leaders they should support. What a hypocrisy! You don't have any guts to openly protest your own government because you know very well that you will be arrested or at least harassed and then forced to apologize.