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Going on stageSeptember 24th, 2009
Concert evening, in the dressing-room. Tonight, I’ll be playing a recital methodically prepared during the last weeks. Final moments before appearing on stage. Someone is knocking at the door. A glance in the mirror, last check for the presence of our good-luck stuffs and other necessities. It’s time to go. A few more moments to wait backstage, and suddenly the stage manager asks if I’m ready, opens the door, and motions to me to go on stage. It’s my first contact with this audience, and often the first “live” impression of the audience about the pianist who is about to play tonight. There’s only a few feet between us and the piano, just a few feet, how to cross the distance?
Punchy à la Gavrilov or slow and charismatic like Benedetti’s one, the way to cover the distance from the stage door to the piano is an obsession. I have never been able to appear on stage in a natural manner so far. Being aware that several hundred pairs of eyes are watching every step of mine is driving me nuts. It may seem ridiculous, because walking to the piano is perhaps technically the simplest thing to do in a recital, but a billion questions arise at the same time: do I have to walk and take a bow in front of the piano, or stay behind the bench? A hand on the piano or not? The concentrated air or friendly and smiling? Small or big steps? Fast or slow ones?
Some pianists practice their entrance, count the number of steps and keep time in order to fit a perfect timing, neither too long nor too short. A strategy has been developed and the pianist becomes an actor for a few seconds. But finally, isn’t this apprehension just a cannot-see-the-forest-for-the-trees attitude? I mean, isn’t it a way to artificially forget what we really fear, that is to say playing?
I do not really know, since leaving scene is also problematic, although our job is almost done. What does frighten us so much then?
09/25/09 - 03:04
Fascinating blog entry today. Do tell: What are your good luck ‘stuffs?’
09/30/09 - 10:59
Hold on, Michael, it’s this week’s topic!
07/5/10 - 03:44
I spent months of undergrad being taught to walk out and bow naturally, as ironic as that sounds. It’s the same for a singer or any instrumentalist, and it’s a simple answer as to why: those are the only moments when you have nothing to hide behind!