Khatia’s first interview: ‘I wanted a baby for myself to be happier’

Khatia’s first interview: ‘I wanted a baby for myself to be happier’

News

norman lebrecht

August 13, 2023

The French-Georgian pianist will return to the circuit at the Gstaad Festival at the end of the month.

She tells Chritian Berzins: ‘I wanted a child for myself to be happier. I needed something because I was missing something. It’s selfish, we don’t ask the child’.

More here.

Comments

  • The Fun is Still Over says:

    Typical parent. “It’s all about ME!”

    • Happily childfree classical listener says:

      The title of this SD post “I wanted a baby for myself to be happier”, is a pretty typical example of a woman expressing baby rabies. But the admission inside the post that it was a purely selfish step is pretty rare. Decent post for a slow news day IMHO.

      • Nicholas says:

        Is it typical for the happily childfree classical listener to use the derogatory slang “baby rabies” instead of acknowledging the beautiful primordial urge to reproduce before the biological clock stops running even under the guise of selfishness? I suppose it’s more succinct expressing it your way. At least we’re are on the same page that the expression “baby rabies” is typically expressed by women instead of potentially pregnant people. I applauded Khatia’s reasoning for postponing the May 11 recital and will applaud her at Carnegie Hall on Oct. 19 as I anticipate a marvelous performance of Liszt, Beethoven, and Stravinsky.

      • Robin says:

        Well, Happily childfree classical listener your “IMHO” is sick. What a rotten thing to say Khatia is expressing “baby rabies”. Look at your own family.

      • Nature’s engineering design says:

        Did you know that 84% of men and 86% women have had at least one kid by age 35? If you think about the percentage that can’t have kids because of biological reasons, that’s a staggering statistic! Calling it ‘baby rabies’ seems immature on your part…

        • Skeptic says:

          No, it’s baby rabies. The world doesn’t need more kids, having a kid “because it’s selfish, we don’t ask the child” is the height of narcissism, and payback is coming in about 17 years, if not before.

          • Nigel Goldberg says:

            Like it or not, with a falling world birth rate, the world does need more kids.

          • Sam's Hot Car Lot says:

            If people don’t have more kids, who’s going to pay for your pension and health care?

    • soavemusica says:

      Some may have thought that as a mother, she would have been more willing to wear clothes in which it is possible to cough.

  • Herbie G says:

    Is this really newsworthy?

  • Ludwig's Van says:

    Her playing is also missing something – a lot, actually.

    • Robin says:

      Just as you are missing a lot Ludwig’s Van – actually. If you knew anything about piano playing you’d recognise Khatia’s style dates back to the romantics via her teachers. But then like poor Ludwig, I guess you are deaf as well.

  • zayin says:

    It is not only selfish, it ought to be criminal, to bring a human being into this world destined to grow up in a planet within the next 50 years to be ravaged by global climate catastrophes, more and more pandemics, wars over ever diminishing resources, and in all likelihood nuclear warfare given the trajectory of Russia, China and North Korea.

    Her happiness is illusory and will be short lived.

    • What am I? says:

      Unless it’s a they/them. Then her unhappiness is poured out to the rest of us. Juxera nightmare.

    • Tamino says:

      Only weak self-indulged snowflakes and narcissists grown up in the last few decades can utter such words. When in fact mankind was worse off most of its history.
      I mean, can you tell me why a Johann Sebastian Bach would have wanted any children, in his time? (he had 17 IIRC) Or anyone else in the history of mankind? When half of all small children died of infectious diseases? When war and pest killed major shares of the population?
      Your generation in fact though probably shouldn’t have children, considering how weak you are, despite living in the best circumstances humanity ever had for a prosperous life.

      • zayin says:

        What are you mumbling about, you’re all but incoherent, good for you, senility is settling, you’ll have the luxury of dying in ignorance of the hell your generation bequeathed on your grandchildren.

        Don’t both responding, you won’t remember by tomorrow.

      • Sue Sonata Form says:

        You are sadly correct. And the rate of teen suicide and depression is at industrial levels these days. It’s a modern scandal how young people have been terrified, neglected in child-care and then brow-beaten about their own ‘rights’ and ‘safety’. Personal initiative and responsibility surplus to requirements.

        The modern Left has such an awful lot to answer for.

        • Mecky Messer says:

          Yes it was so much better before when schools/ neighborhoods were segregated, unhinged priests raped kids at will, 99% of executives were white men and only white people were in the top 10000 list of good composers.

          That without forgetting how Andrew Carnegie would literally hire a militia to shoot and kill employees protesting inhumane working conditions, and a long etc.

          The far left has destroyed our world. Its time to go back to the good old days!

    • Bone says:

      Turn off your screens and take a walk. You’ll feel better.

    • Sue Sonata Form says:

      Feel the hate.

    • John King says:

      You forgot to include……. Nickelback concerts!

  • Morgan says:

    Would you like to explicate further?

  • Ben 'Stiller' says:

    Judging by the interview, if I were the baby I’d be very happy.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Don’t apologize, Katia, for being a perfectly normal woman who wants to have children. You’ll love the journey and the baby!!

    • Mecky Messer says:

      If literally anybody who is not a classical musician would’ve stated the exact same words, many here would be unequivocally screaming the end of times, the erosion of western values, the desecration of Europes IQ, the dumbing down of youth and an immediate call to go back to the good old days of Domingo, Levine, and many other examples of morality, good manners and respect.

      But since Argerich’s protegee said it…well, there’s no problem.

  • Tamino says:

    When narcissists have children…
    This is sad.

    • em says:

      doesn t any parent have a child for his sake , not for the baby’s sake?
      she is an intelectual lady and aknowledge what others don t even tell to themselves

      • Tamino says:

        It’s not black or white, any motive to do anything usually has a component of self gratification. Pure selflessness, is an ideal, not reality. Even Mother Theresa probably did things her way, because it also felt gratifying for her. So far so human.
        But do you have to say it in an interview as the main topic of the reason for your motherhood?
        If you are a reflected intellectual human being, as you claim she is? It strikes me as only either foolish, or selfish, or both.
        She is objectifying the baby big time, and saying it loudly. Now kudos to saying it as it is, but that doesn’t it make it better for the baby. Unless she wanted to say something provocative just for some wicked PR reason, to be noticed.

  • Mecky Messer says:

    Well, called it:

    Traumatized child by nutjob parent with airs of grandeur number…..18384746272939474738282

    Please elucidate me on how playing Beethoven, Chopin and Mozart make you a better person or makes Babies Happier.

    If a reggaeton singer had said exactly the same words, many a snob around here would be sentencing the end of times, the arrival of the 4 horsemen of the apocalipsis, and probably find new and more creative ways to rid “the west” from all minorities or “those people”, as they are corrupting our enlightened western values…

    Thankfully, it is the protegee of Argerich who thinks like this….all is great then….

  • HRearden says:

    A woman pianist that wants to follow her God given instincts and become a parent. What a concept to leave a legacy of one’s children when the accolades from the gallery fade away. I am most interested to hear how this just may add a deeper dimension to her often sterile yet stylish execution on stage.

  • Maria says:

    Self-indulgent twoddle. Me, me, me!

  • Monday morning says:

    I hope you asked the Father!

  • Anonymous says:

    A refreshing bit of honesty on the part of a new parent. There are no unselfish reasons for having children.

  • MMcGrath says:

    Tacky photograph. It’s completely oblivious of the child’s right to privacy as it’s exposed to the media here for the sake of her mother’s neuroses.

    This woman has lots of complexes and obviously is in one-way imagined competition with Yuja Wang. Ms Wang tastefully provokes. This person just makes me worry what she’ll do next.

  • Daniel Reiss says:

    Selfish? Is there a good parent who doesn’t want a child? There is such a thing as healthy selfishness!
    Here’s hoping the Mrs Grundys who objected to Lorenzo Viotti in the buff aren’t offended by Khatia nursing her baby in public.
    Mazeltov to the radiant, happy mom!

    • Bone says:

      Ayn Rand wrote a short book describing selfishness as a virtue.

      • Herr Forkenspoon says:

        That doesn’t mean it IS a virtue.

      • Sue Sonata Form says:

        Yes, it can be. Very much so. Particularly in the self-interested sovereign way. The Left never gets irony or subtlety so your comment will be largely lost on them. They only do grievance, hysteria, entitlement, covetousness and huge anxiety. Very sad lives coming up.

        We find our purpose in life by GIVING, not whining.

      • Tamino says:

        Ayn Rand was a psychopath.
        Let’s count our blessings she only was a C-level writer and not someone with any influence or power.

  • Sue Sonata Form says:

    Katia, make sure your baby doesn’t grow up like this – with many of the comments below evidence of the inevitable outcomes:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bSKAWmctzCI

  • SNORRI says:

    This woman makes me nauseous. Truly.

  • Dargomyzhsky says:

    I wonder if parenthood will mean that this pianist begins to take an adult attitude to the music she plays? let us hope so.

  • MOST READ TODAY: