LDV92

20 ALEXANDER SCRIABIN ∙ NIKOLAI RIMSKY-KORSAKOV The period when he was still following in the wake of Chopin. What about his late pieces, with their explorations of new sound worlds? I like to hear them in concert played by others, but I don’t touch them myself. It’s a question of time and energy. The task of getting them absolutely right is so complex that you don’t know how many years of practice it will take. By not tackling this repertory, I’ve probably failed to fulfil part of my personal mission. Have you never been tempted even by Vers la flamme ? Oh yes, I’ve played it, but since I heard Arcadi Volodos perform it with such plenitude, I’ve decided not to touch it again. I could say the same about Chopin’s B minor Sonata as played by Martha Argerich, which gives the same impression of breathing the air of another world entirely. So what’s the point of trying to compete?