Thanks to Fred Child, you can now hear a recent interview he did with acclaimed pianist and Park Slope resident, Simone Dinnerstein. He writes:
somewhat surprised) classical star. The recording she paid for from her
own pocket had shot to No. 1 on the classical charts in its first week.
Seemingly overnight, she had gone from scratching out a few small gigs
to playing for sellout crowds at the most prestigious concert halls in
the world.
That kind of success can exact a price. Even in the
world of classical music, some A-list musicians fall for the trappings:
luxury hotels, five-star meals, gala receptions, fawning adoration from
moneyed admirers. Dinnerstein maintains a clear-eyed focus on what she
loves most about all of this: the music.
When she returned to our
studio this season, she seemed genuinely reflective, pausing to
consider each question for a moment, then speaking straight from the
heart. No matter the topic, her thoughts seemed remarkably well-formed,
as if she'd been sagely pondering these questions for ages. Her
continuing love of music by Bach. Her appreciation for a 21st-century
set of variations on Bach. How her new celebrity means more time away
from home, but deepens her connections with her husband and son. How
her playing has evolved in the last two years.
Dinnerstein
creates a similar mood when she plays piano: It's contemplative and
insightful. Thoughtfully grounded, but at the same time suggesting
something more — a timeless, numinous beyond.
Turns out this was one of Fred Child's favorite sessionns so he put it on the WNYC website. For the enjoyment of OTBKB readers, here's the
link to the interview http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101102623
…and her husband is a phenomenal 5th grade teacher.