As he approaches the 33th anniversary of U.S. premiere at Carnegie Hall, pianist Yefim Bronfman remains committed to the cause of music. “The processes of music-making never cease, for the human spirit cannot be stopped, and one integral expression of humanity is music,” he said in a recent interview.
Fima, as he’s called by his many friends and fans, turns 64 on April 10, and will return May 8 to Orchestra Hall, where he’s a frequent and welcome guest, for an SCP Piano recital — which will include two Beethoven works, Sonata No. 11 in B-flat Major, Op. 22, and Sonata No. 23 in F Minor, Op. 57 (Appassionata).
“I have learned that success takes a lot of hard work and confidence,” he said. “The mystery that compels me to the next concert is difficult to pinpoint and highly complicated, though the most important thing is a foundation that can allow a person to persevere, which for me is a love of music.
“Another lesson is that we must always be prepared to deliver excellence,” he said. “Careers sometimes last for only a short time, but if you consistently deliver interesting music, then I think that someone out there will always want to hear it.
“I have always been fascinated by music; I do not play music because the market needs it, but because I am a naturally curious person. What drives me is the desire to improve. Though I do not always succeed, I always try to get better.”