Simone Dinnerstein: "Something Almost Being Said"
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2011-12-22/simone-dinnerstein-something-almost-being-said
Simon Dinnerstein
From the beginning, classical pianist Simone Dinnerstein broke all the rules: she didn’t start playing piano until the age of 7, and dropped out of Juilliard briefly to study in London. Nearing her thirtieth birthday, Dinnerstein hadn’t achieved the musical career she’d hoped for: auditions led nowhere and she was playing at schools and community centers. Then, Dinnerstein self-funded a recording of Johann Sebastian Bach’s Goldberg variations, which leaked to the internet, and led to a debut album that rocketed to the top of the classical charts. American concert pianist Simone Dinnerstein joins Diane to talk about her forthcoming album, “Something Almost Being Said: The Music of Bach and Schubert,” and her unlikely rise to the top of the classical music charts.
Guests
Simone Dinnerstein
concert pianist
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Simone Dinnerstein plays some selections:
Comments
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Absolutely lovely!
Can you ask her what pianos she prefers to play, Steinway, Mason & Hamelin, etc.
I was taken back in time by Simone's account of studying with her teacher Maria. I also studied with a woman who had been a student of Artur Schnabel's, and Simone's description of the hand position Maria demanded and the delicacy of tone that resulted is very similar to my memory of my teacher's technique. It was a gift to my 12-year-old self to see her knarled, arthritic hands barely touching the keys and bringing from them such gossamer sounds.
Her name was Hilda Hemer, and she had emigrated from Germany during the war to Los Angeles, where she later taught another young emigre named Julie Andrews. She was my teacher in Bishop, California in the early 1980's, where she was close to 90 and living with egg-laying parakeets and a silky little dog. She died in 1982 or '83, and as she lay in bed declining she insisted on having Brahms piano music on around the clock. It was at the lowest possible volume, and although she was very deaf, she smiled and moved her head and hands ever so slightly with the music. Thank you for bringing that back.
Explain the picture. It's rather quaint and sweet.
I thought the great de la Rocha had the lightness and clarity you speak of.
Gould's work I found heavy and overwrought. Perhaps it was the recording studio....
Your guest alluded to her not doing so well in school, leading to her concentrating on developing her artistic talents instead. I've been a mechanical engineer for the past 36 years. I did well in school and my academic success, particularly in math and science, lead to that particular career choice. But what I recall from my early school days is that the class I enjoyed the most was art. In later years, I even dabbled in some oil painting. Do you think our educational system does enough to encourage the "other" half of our brains?
Dear Simone,
The comment you made of "holding your hand like you have an orange in it" rang a bell for me. My childhood piano teacher told me that same thing while trying to teach me. She has since passed away and I am sorry I never was able to tell her how much she gave to me. - The beauty of Music. I now play guitar but her piano teachings help me to this day.
- John
Enchanting! I'm in awe of Simone's virtuosity and articulateness. She will be in my library directly. Thanks, Diane.
Dear Simone, As I listen to your piano playing: I FEEL LIKE I CAN BREATHE BEWEEN EVERY NOTE BECAUSE YOU DID KEEP THE AIR IN THE MUSIC AS GOD INTENDS THERE TO BE!!!!
When I teach Violin I say if you pay attention to the space between the notes, There is room for the fire-flies to fill out the music
Dear Simone, As I listen to your piano playing: I FEEL LIKE I CAN BREATHE BEWEEN EVERY NOTE BECAUSE YOU DID KEEP THE AIR IN THE MUSIC AS GOD INTENDS THERE TO BE!!!!
When I teach Violin I say if you pay attention to the space between the notes, There is room for the fire-flies to fill out the music TO BE BEAUTIFUL.
I have listened to your program many times in the past but was transported by the Dinerstein interview.
Blessings to you, your craft and your family!
Ms. Rehm acknowledged that Simone's unborn child could hear the composition her mother was practicing. However, Ms. Rehm, a practicing Christian, supports the "choice" of abortion and Planned Parenthood, one of the leading abortion institutions in the United States. It seems to me there is a contradiction here.
What a gorgeous interview! Ms. Dinnerstein spoke with such clarity and grace about the piano, and her personal experience, that I was quite transported. Ms. Rehm, you are a pure delight. I love your voice, it paces the rhythym of the interview . And you reliably ask such intelligent, interesting, and amusing questions. Very elegant. I learned a great deal about the piano and will buy Ms. Dinnerstein's work immeadiately. Thank you both, the music and conversation gave me great joy.
What a gorgeous interview! Ms. Dinnerstein spoke with such clarity and grace about the piano, and her personal experience, that I was quite transported. Ms. Rehm, you are a pure delight. I love your voice, it paces the rhythym of the interview . And you reliably ask such intelligent, interesting, and amusing questions. Very elegant. I learned a great deal about the piano and will buy Ms. Dinnerstein's work immeadiately. Thank you both, the music and conversation gave me great joy.
Thank you so much for your show. It was a pleasure to hear a real musician play the piano for a change. Most of the new breed play in a mechanical fashion as if the the notes were fodder for the fingers. When I heard Ms Dinnerstein play I could not believe that it was Bach! There was no mechanical "clumping".
I would be very interested in her opinion of (Arthur) Rubinstein, Browning, and Barenboim who in my opinion are also very lyrical players who get at the "essence" of the music and are not just technicians.
Thanks again for your show. It is only on the Diane Rehm show that we are privileged to experience such treasures as this new artist. I will be purchasing every album. I thought such artists were a thing of the past!