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For those who hoped that America’s standing in the world would immediately rebound when the Bush administration rode into the sunset, Sunday night’s furor at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles must have been a disappointment. After playing a Bach partita and Beethoven’s last piano sonata, followed by a riveting Polish nationalist sonata, the pianist Krystian Zimerman announced that he would no longer play in the U.S. because of its objectionable military policies overseas.
In his soft-spoken but apparently angry comments, the 52-year-old Pole, widely regarded as one of our era’s greatest pianists, attacked the U.S. military for seeking to “control the world.” He made reference to the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay and then called on the United States to “get your hands off my country.”
The reaction was instantaneous. About 40 people stood up and walked out. Others booed (while still others applauded).
Many commenters at latimes.com seemed to think that Zimerman should have expressed gratitude that the U.S. “rescued” his nation from Soviet domination. But Zimerman no doubt had more recent events on his mind. The U.S. has said it will base interceptor missiles in Poland as part of its missile defense plan. And in recent years, the CIA is believed to have operated one of its “black site” secret prisons in Poland.
You don’t have to accept all of Zimmerman’s criticisms to recognize that he speaks for many around the world. Zimerman had a stage, and he used it. Those who objected and voted with their feet have every right to boycott his music.
May such debates always be with us. Meanwhile, it’s sad that his artistry will not be heard in the U.S.
