New mum Khatia won’t come back too soon
NewsKhatia Buniatishvili has cancelled her festival concerts for the next two months to spend more time with her newborn.
She writes:
Hard to say – I’m sorry I have to cancel my next three performances in July in Orange (France), Düsseldorf & Ingelheim am Rhein (Germany). I was looking forward to discover « Les Chorégies d’Orange festival » and going back to Klavierfestival Ruhr and Rheingau festival, places where I have a deep and long term connection with…
But every city requires a travel on each second day and every concert demands a rehearsal with the orchestra and my chamber music colleagues (would have been easier with solo recitals as it demands less precision for rehearsing schedule) and it is a little too much and too early to ask to my baby girl, from the point of view of a breastfeeding mother. My apologies (and hope to reschedule someday) to my colleagues – Kirill, orchestre de Lyon, Mohamed, Irene, Adrien, Edgar… and a big thank you to wonderful Sodi Braide for filling the piano space in two cities in Germany so smoothly.
We are sending to you all positive and peaceful energy and fix our next rendez-vous in Gstaad, Switzerland on August 27th.
By choice or because the industry is inherently biased and completely unhelpful for new/mother’s?
I’m betting you don’t have a child!!
For the record, Sue’s concept of ideal motherhood is that of Argerich, as reflected in a documentary.
Another wonderful legacy of this enlightened community…
Probably by choice. If there’s a list of worst possible jobs to perform while with a newborn, traveling concertist would be there, probably next to tower electrician. It’s just not good and healthy for a baby to travel with her mother, and neither is to be away from her. The industry or not doesn’t change the fact that a newborn needs constant care and vigilance, and a pianist on Khatia’s level can afford to take some time off, and comeback just as strong and when she left.
Maternity Leave is a thing.
Have you heard of it?
The universe is inherently biased against mothers. (actually it’s the opposite, but looking at it through your perceptional bias for a moment.) They breastfeed, which is the best for the child. Some things just are the way they are. Not everything is a misogynist patriarchial conspiracy against women.
In this case, it sounds like the choice of the new mother to forgo the work so she can be with her baby at this somewhat important time.
I would be curious to see the contracts these artists have that make it so easy and on such short notice to become a Slippedisc headline about canceling concert.
What a beautiful photograph. Best wishes Khatia.
I think Khatia Buniatishvili has a big enough reputation to do as she pleases. Believe it or not, there are still unbiased and good people in the world. Not everything has to have a political or hidden agenda.
can’t help it, but this pic reminds me of this quip from Dean Martin’s roast on tv: Sophia Loren’s new baby looks up and says “is this all for me?”
Ew.
Lucky baby.
You are what the world needs Khatia
What a beautiful picture of a glowing mother at ease with the dutiful and joyful act of nursing her baby. So in tune with the harmony of the naturally affirming life force in the universe and more meaningful than even music itself. Bach, Beethoven, and Liszt can wait.
Honestly, the excuses some performers use to get out of doing concerts!
(Just kidding, if you’ll excuse the pun)
I’m wondering where the husband or father or sperm providing person is to provide some assistance with taking care of the child while on tour. Not the breast feeding part, obviously, but all the rest of it.. Oh, you’re saying I can’t ask that question in todays world totally female dominated world since women don’t need men for anything, other than the obvious, of course??