He was my teacher back in the early 70s at Indiana University.One time he asked if I was going to enter the school's Barber Concerto competition in a week. I laughed, "Of course not! I haven't learned any of it." Then he said I should do it. I could only laugh. He told me he once learned a Brahms Concerto in 2 days to fill in for Van Cliburn. After 40 yrs. I still remember how flabbergasted I was. Amazing!
This was so wonderful for me because I studied with him about 37 yrs. ago when he was teaching at Indiana University, and I haven't heard him speaking since about 1974. What a lovely man. And what an amazing pianist. He told me once that he had learned a Brahms Piano Concerto in 2 days so he could fill in for Van Cliburn. Imagine that! I can't! Ha!
This evening March 30, 2014, I attended a recital by Maestro Simon at the Bing Theater, Los Angeles County Museum of Art. Simon played Beethoven, Schumann's Arabesk, and Chopin's 3rd Piano Sonata and it was well attended and received. The maestro is in his nineties. May he have many more years of health and playing the piano.
I had the pleasure of hearing this amazing pianist play when I lived in Houston. His recording of the Chopin Etudes is still one of my favorites. He has left us with worthy models for emulation.
Abbey Simon has always been one of my very favorite pianists. I have only known him through his recordings and wish that I had heard him in a live performance. Like other commentators, I have found his recording of Ravel and Chopin to be revelatory (particularly his Etudes and Scherzos, so I was delighted to hear him say in this interview that he enjoyed recording those best). Thank you so much for conducting and posting this lovely interview.
I love this guy, he introduced me to the music of Chopin as a nine year old and the more I hear it the more I appreciate his genius. Abbey Simon's recordings are stunning.
Abbey is fantastic. His recording of Chopin concert #1 and # 2 are wonderful. His recordings really touch my heart I never got tired to hear. God bless this great pianist.
Abbey may not have a thunder forte these days but everything else piano emits from under his magic fingers is simly beautiful and heartfelt!!>> From year to year anxiously waiting for the first friday of February when he performs at Moore's opera house in Houston..... SOme of them ahve been DVD'd on limited editions and I wish those were more available..... Actually, one tour around the World with Abbey Simon would be great! Impressarions, wake up! Abbey! Keep going and keep us happy!
Marvellous teacher and performer! About 12 years I was lucky enough to have some masterclasses with him when he was in the Netherlands. I remember there was a girl playing the 3rd Chopin ballade. He listened through the whole piece and said: "Thank you for playing. We could discuss lots of musical issues. However, first of all you need to practice till you're blue in the face, I wouldn't know any other way. :)
I have been lucky to see Mr. Simon perform twice: once, two years ago, and this afternoon in London. Both times, courtesy of the Chopin Society. His rendition of Chopin's Opus 58 sonata was especially memorable. He's a legend!
Hi Wonne! Do you mean the Brahms-Paganini sets? I believe I also heard that concert at KU where I participated in masterclasses with Mr. Simon. His effortless technique and immaculate sound always amazed me. It's funny how he says recording all the Chopin etudes was a "simple job". Hope all is well with you! Cory
I like the way he describes the way a pianist walks on stage and basically says "This is what *I* think such and such a composer is saying, or even this is what I *insist* the composer is saying". This belief that a score can be played 'to the letter' and somehow that will produce the original composers full intentions is ridiculous. ALL classical musicians are interpreters. Even the composers themselves who can/do play their own works play them differently every time!
