In a seminar, I ask each of a group of young pianists to talk very briefly about a piece they know -- as they might speak to an audience before performing. I urge them to be pithy, personal, compelling. I don't like the "Beethoven-was-born-in-1770 approach," I tell them. Music is important. It engages with the big questions, I say. One seminar participant asks me to give an example of the sort of commentary I want. So, I say: "Imagine I'm … [Read more...]