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Do you think the public is receptive to this type of
project?
I have the feeling there’s a positive evolution in that respect, but
other things make me pessimistic, such as the creation of a star
system for classical artists – which is not to call their musical
quality into question. The great love of my childhood was Clara
Haskil. Today, I don’t know if she would have been able to make
a career! In this world of glamour and glitter, the fortepiano is
a genuine remedy for big-headedness. It’s a lesson in humility.
Nobody ever tries to turn fortepiano players into massive stars,
as can happen with certain big soloists. Most of the time they
perform with the score, in modestly sized concert halls. That
denotes a different relationship to the music, and you can draw
true lessons for life from them. A modest stance that was very
well summed up by Richter when he said: ‘I am an interpreter.’