Arturo Benedetti MichelangeliNovember 19th, 2009
A long time ago, I wrote a few lines about Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli and my fascination for this pianist. Today I propose a short video to better understand one of the things I find very interesting in his piano playing. When speaking about pianists, we must naturally consider the direct musical result but I think the visual aspects of their playing should not be forgotten. With Michelangeli, this component is exceptional.
Before watching this video of Brahms’ first ballade opus 10, I’ll give you my point of view. I particularly like his sobriety. Music before anything else: no “inspired contortions,” and hand movements look so natural that one would think seeing a long caress of the keys, an endless ballet of fingers. Any pianist seeks a purity of gesture, and Michelangeli is for me a perfect example of this purity. His calm, elegance at the piano, this quiet strength emitting an incredible aura prouve, if needed, that Michelangeli is a tremendous pianist. Even if I know he has been thinking about it a lot and even if it was partly an acting performance, I love it!
I let you observe this in this video filmed live in 1981 in Lugano.