Every musician should ask: how committed are you? Could you do something else
mainThe organist Paul Jacobs is one of the most thoughtful, self-searching practitioners on any instrument. A Grammy winner who played the complete works of J S Bach in an 18-hour unbroken marathon, he talks to Zsolt Bognar about pain, anxiety, struggle… it’s not easy.
Watch.
Many musicians I’ve met should be committed
Maybe the question should read; “SHOULD you do do something else?”!
Thank you so much for sharing this, Norman–we have heard from so many viewers particularly already about this one, saying they were very moved.
Zsolt, thank you so much for this extraordinary interview. This conversation was particularly moving and inspiring. I love your Living the Classical Life programs and can’t wait for next episode!
I really wish Herbert von Hochmeister had gone into cancer research; I feel that he was a genius who really could’ve turned his hand to anything. He could have done music at an extraordinarily high “amateur” level, on a charitable basis. But he was no Celi or Furtwangler. The BPO deserved better.
What would seem to be the point in playing a marathon of Bach, just to prove your committed,, unless the music comunicates something, which it doesn’t always, one might be better playing ones interpretation of a Bach piece,,, after learning it by ear, then throwing away the music and playing a version or interpretation of it….there’s enough music thankyou very much, without having marathons of it, next thing they’ll be wanting it recognized as an olympic sport,,,,, a part time musician ‘committed’ to his family,,, playing whenever he can get time may well be as committed as the marathon musician guys/gals…….
Deplorable…..
I expect that Mr. Jacobs played all the organ works of Bach in that marathon session, not “the complete works of J S Bach.”