Aspiring musicians should note that you do not need arms like these to play the piano. But an excellent physical condition can make your performances more pleasant and intense. Working out has certainly not done Tzimon Barto any harm, in fact he has become something of the "Henry Rollins of the Classical World" (which you could turn the other way round, if you'd like to). Which means that he has no problems with confronting people, even if that's not what he is about. It also means that he is not only an instrumentalist, but also a poet. And that he is diversifying into literature and theatre plays. There's something very American about Barto: His homepage is very clear about what he can do, there's no sign of any doubts or thoughts of failure. Which may be a big help in a world which has no problems degrading even the biggest talents. For anyone who'd like to see this man in action, the current Klavierfestival Ruhr might be a good choice: There are still tickets to be had for a program of Bach, Brahms, Schumann, Rameau, Ravel and Franck.
Homepage: Tzimon Barto
Homepage: Tzimon Barto at the Klavierfestival Ruhr
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