15 Questions to Tzimon Barto

For a lot of people, Tzimon Barto has been some kind of an enigma. How can a man, who fluently commands five languags lift weights each day? How can an incredibly gifted classical pianist neglect his talents by doing too many things at the same time and indulge in writing and concertising? How can he enter the scene with a whirlwind of releases and then remain silent for years? If Barto's career has proven anything, then that these are no contradictions in terms, but merely signs of an obvious lack of understanding: A heathly mind needs a healthy body, moonlighting lifts each individual talent to a higher level, as well serving as a necessary valve of expression and if his inspiration should lead him primarily into literature for some time, then so be it. And if the reactions to his first novel, "A lady of Greek origin" are anything to go by, he has definitely not squandered these years outside of the recording studio. Still, Barto had come to expect initial scepticism to all he did and was sure, critics would "slaughter" him for his come-back album, a collection of pieces by all but forgotten French composer Rameau. Instead, the album has hit the ceiling in almost all magazines and papers worldwide (including this one), making it one of the early highlights of the year. And as he is finishing the final pages of his second book, writing and playing have come to an outward balance as well. It would seem a positive sign that maybe some riddles surrounding Tzimon Barto will now simply disappear.

Hi! How are you, where are you?
Thank you, I've never been better. I am currently at my home in Central Florida.

What's on your schedule right now?
I'm touching up the last eight chapters of a 643 page novel, "Harold Flanders", a satire on bedfellows Christianity and Capitalism, which takes place in a small U.S. town.

If you hadn't chosen for music, what do you think you would do right now?
Uniquely literature

What or wo was you biggest influence as an artist?
Christoph Eschenbach, Montserrat Caballé, Vladimir Horowitz, Stanislavski, Henrich Schenker and a number of actors and authors.

What is the hardest part about being a musician and what is the best?
The "hardest part" is travel (the word's origin itselves derives from a Latin word signifying an "instrument of torture." The best part - the feeling of bond and beauty that the performer may induce among the public.

What's your view on the classical music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
There is never a crisis for masterpieces, for such distills the best of human thought and endeavor.

Some feel there is no need to record classical music any more, that is all done before. What do you tell them?
I would ask them why they get out of bed in the morning, that's been done before!

What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What's your approach to performing on stage?
Absolute honesty. Exacting preparation.

What does the word "interpretation" mean to you?
Exactly what the word roots of the compund word means; "to travel, "carry" through"

True or false: It is the duty of an artist to put his person emotions into the music he plays.
False; if it were a duty the artist would be no artist

True or false: "Music is my first love".
I am my first love, my wife second, my son third, literature fourth, music fifth - but, chronologically being a linear - one-sided fallacy I opt for the sphere of all five at one.

True or false: People need to be educated about classical music, before they can really appreciate it.
True and false: the more one is educated the more one is able to appreciate.

You are given the position of an artistic director of a concert hall. What would be on your program for thi season?
An abundance of Charles Ives & John Cage

What's your favourite classical CD at the moment?
My Rameau CD, naturally.

Have you ever tried playing a different instrument? If yes, how good were you at it?
Yes, I did just that while in High School. "I tried" and "to try is to fail."

Photo: Bob Wilson - "Hot Water", 2000

Discography:
Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto No 3 (EMI) 1997
Chopin - Reludes & Nocturnes (EMI) 1997
Chopin - Piano Concertos No 1&2 (EMI) 1998
Schumann - Kreisleriana (EMI) 1999
Prokofiev/Ravel/Gershwin (EMI) 1999
Bartok
De Falla, Nights in the Gardens of Spain (EMI)
Liszt A Dur
Liszt recital
Saint-Saens, Carnival of the animals (EMI)
The Best of Tzimon Barto, Encore recital (out of print/collectors item)
For Disclavier Brahms Variations on a theme of Paganini (Yamaha)
Chopin - Preludes & Nocturnes (Seraphim Classics) 1999
A basket of wild strawberries (Ondine) 2006

Homepage:
Tzimon Barto

Tags: usa, tzimon barto, piano, interviews, classical

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