Objects in Mirror: December 15, 2007 Archive

Pianists, politics and pancakes

Posted at 7:40 AM on December 15, 2007 by Julia Schrenkler

While making breakfast this morning I fired up MPR's Classical stream. Timing is everything, and I managed to catch Gillian Martin outline a bit of Andrei Gavrilov's story.

Gavrilov endured a bit of house arrest in the Soviet Union for his outspoken political views. Through an Internet search I found he also had a bit of wealth, as he was quoted,

"I was becoming rich and independent," he says. "I was driving a Mercedes that was better than Brezhnev's."

I'm sure that had nothing to do with the whole pianist-as-political-prisoner thing. But think about it. How can someone live their life, build a career, or even feel music if politicians have them under house arrest? Or if the artist discovers the authorities (reportedly) wouldn't mind a fatal accident befalling the individual?

At any rate I enjoyed Martin's hosting, Gavrilov's playing, Bach's Keyboard Concerto #3, and the pancakes.

Resources:
Classical Music Playlist