Blood on the keyboard after LSO Bartok concert
mainThe London Symphony Orchestra has posted this photo of the Vienna Konzerthaus piano.
It was taken last night by first violinist Rhys Watkins during the concert interval, after Yefim Bronfman had performed the third Bartók concerto.
The soloist gave his life’s blood…
UPDATE: Bronfman told LSO violinist Maxine Kwok-Adams that there was also blood on the floor.
Blut und Boden….
2nd UPDATE from the LSO: Mr Bronfman cut his finger and received treatment earlier in the day. He insisted on going ahead with his performance rather than disappoint the audience. During the concerto his wound reopened but, undaunted, he gave a superb performance and also a sublime encore.
how does one clean and disinfect a piano without damaging it?
Exactly. Maybe they can auction it off for a high price.
I don’t think such fortes are written in the score.
I’ll pass the word on to Mr. Bronfman
You clearly have never used staffpad. 😉
What is the source for this photo? I can’t find it anywhere.
it’s from Maxine Kwok-Adams’ twitter account. original link here: https://twitter.com/Maxinekwokadams/status/654081251259883520
Why would it ever be necessary for anyone to strike the keys so hard that their hands start to bleed? Ridiculous! Not to mention the harm they are likely doing to their joints…..
I’m kind of morbidly curious as to why this seems to keep happening.
Oh, enough with the blood on the keyboard trend. As if we don’t have enough reality TV kitsch in the classical music, now we have to suffer this silly trend as well….
it was Bartóks concerto Nr. 2 Sz 95 (1930-1931) … much more dangerous than the 3rd one!
The Bartok 2nd concerto could cause a pianist to bleed, but not the 3rd concerto.
my fault: it was Nr 3 … they played two programs.
maybe it was nose bleeding?
The first or second concerto both have enough wildness to cause bleeding, but certainly not the third ! It’s a totally different kind of work.
“Blut und Boden….”
What a half-witted witticism.
This is at least the second time it has happened this year, both times with Bartok!
http://www.classicfm.com/instruments/piano/blood-keyboard-photo/#tPvkMByoPBiURxoe.97
“Today more than ever, audiences mistake the excessively tense muscular activities of the performer for an intense musical experience, and all too often we see the public impressed and awed by convulsive distortions and spastic gyrations.”
From one who knew his Bartok rather well…György Sándor
Sorry. I did not see the update of this post.
Most of the comments above make absolutely no sense whatsoever when the post’s second update is taken into consideration.
Thanks. I overlooked the update of this post.
This episode reminded me that in 1940’s Ginette Neveau, the violinist drew blood whilst playing the Sibelius Violin Concerto, also with the LSO at the Cmbridge Theatre, I think. I managed to sketch her rehearsing there then.Sent Norman Lebrecht copy of that sketch.