Krystian Zimerman's shocking Disney Hall debut
Los Angeles Times
April 27 2009
Poland’s Krystian Zimerman, widely regarded as one of the finest pianists in the world, created a furor Sunday night in his debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall when he announced this would be his last performance in America because of the nation’s military policies overseas.
Before playing the final work on his recital … Zimerman sat silently at the piano for a moment, almost began to play, but then turned to the audience. In a quiet but angry voice … he indicated that he could no longer play in a country whose military wants to control the whole world.
“Get your hands off of my country,” he said. [Obviously referring to US plans to put “missile defense” interceptors into Poland.] …
About 30 or 40 people in the audience walked out, some shouting obscenities. “Yes,” he answered, “some people when they hear the word military start marching.”
Others remained but booed or yelled for him to shut up and play the piano. But many more cheered. Zimerman responded by saying that America has far finer things to export than the military, and he thanked those who support democracy.
