The pianist, who has avoided playing in his homeland since 2009, has said he will return in 2017.
Interviewed by a Tass correspondent in New York, he gave no reason either for his absence or for his welcome return.
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Kissin’s concerts in Russia will be certain sell-outs, wherever and whatever he plays.
I’m not going to start translating the whole TASS piece (!) but I was intrigued that he mentioned he has recently been including spoken poetry and philosophy in his recitals, in Yiddish – notably material by Isaac Perec. He also mentions that his youthful interests in composition have recently resulted in some adult-era works -including a four-movement suite for piano.
I’d be interested in hearing his Suite for Piano, but spoken poetry and philosophy have no place in piano recitals.
Oh, SO agreed. Or in dance performances, unless as recorded or voice-overed “score” (in which case I probably won’t be there).
And I hope his new recordings, if any, carry a warning label. I have no interest in being preached at or in listening to “poetry” — in Yiddish. That should play well in Russia.
Why it has no place? A music performance is not supposed to be a museum you go back to the 15th time or a book you read the 7th time.
Classical music is not a graveyard but a forest. Bring it on, let’s get inspired from the inspired.
I admit it probably wouldn’t appeal to me in this sense (if only because my Russian is pretty mediocre and my knowledge of Russian poetry is spotty, to be kind), but finding novel ways to present music, or to do it in context with other artistic works that are somehow related – is something I would think should be encouraged. Kissin already did this show in Carnegie Hall: http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/arts/music/two-russian-tours-one-led-by-evgeny-kissin-the-other-by-the-american-symphony-orchestra.html
There is a big misunderstanding here: Kissin has a special recital program comprised of works by Yiddish-speaking composers, and the music is interspersed with his recitations of Yiddish poetry (not philosophy). He does not perform this program often, and only in places where he feels there is an audience to appreciate it.
Well, it was the TASS interview in which Kissin himself said it was philosophical:
Треть концерта была посвящена философским произведениям основоположника современной литературы на идише Ицхака Переца, которые Кисин читал на память.
But these might be different programs?
He is playing a nice programme in quite a small hall in Freiburg, in March
http://festival.emilgilelsfoundation.net/konzerte/