15 Questions to Magdalena Galka

A few things are noticeable with Magdalena: First of all, she likes to display all her talents, adding painting to her list of passions. Secondly, she's not only a formidable solo-pianist and chamber music partner in the most diverse combinations, but also loves to peform her excellent own compositions, some of which can be found on her homepage. And thirdly, she is not afraid to admit that she teaches playing the piano - and actually enjoys doing so. Quite a few of her stundents have already snapped up some prestigous awards at German competitions, so it looks like apart from making people happy with her own performances, she is actively improving classical music's future.

Hi! How are you? Where are you?
Thanks, well. I am at home in Stuttgart.

What’s on your schedule right now?
To practice my repertoire for the study: 2 piano concerts, a Recital, and a repertoire examination.

If you hadn’t chosen for music, what do you think you would do right now?
I would probably have studied somethings else, I cannot not exactly say what.

What or who was your biggest influence as an artist?
My father, who was also pianist and piano pedagogue, has a very big influence.

What’s the hardest part about being a musician and what’s the best?
The best part is the music, the music, the music. The hard part is the discipline, the criticism, the practice and the pressure to have to play better. It is very hard, if you start hating yourself and if you come to believe, that you're worthless, only because you had a bad concert. It is hard, if you lose faith in yourself.

What’s your view on the classical music scene at present? Is there a crisis?
In don't really feel I can say anything that hasn't already been said.

Some feel there is no need to record classical music any more, that it’s all been done before. What do you tell them?
Yes, it’s all be done. But there has been said and written so much already about "love", and shown in films - always about the same theme and its well-known variations. And nevertheless people are still interested, read the books and watch these films - another actor, another place - and everything begins anew. It's the same with music. Another pianist, another interpretation - a new aspect, although perhaps in only one passage.

What constitutes a good live performance in your opinion? What’s your approach to performing on stage?
Fire, temper, character, depth, the feeling which rises into the heart of the listener... If you have something to say and you do it and feel that you do it – it’s the best.

What does the word “interpretation” mean to you?
Interpretation means for me to show noted contents convincingly, with all the possibilities which live in you - and never taking your eyes and ears off the composer.

True or false: It is the duty of an artist to put his personal emotions into the music he plays.
True.

True or false: “Music is my first love”
True.

True or false: People need to be educated about classical music, before they can really appreciate it.
False.

You are given the position of artistic director of a concert hall. What would be on your program for this season?
Piano concerts of Chopin, Prokofiew, Lutoslawski. Rachmaninoff rhapsody of a theme from Paganini, Symphonies of Schostakowitsch, Beethoven, Brahms, Bruckner, Prokofiew..

What’s your favourite classical CD at the moment?
Bach The Well-tempered Clavier with Rosalyn Tureck.

Have you ever tried playing a different instrument? If yes, how good were you at it?
Yes, I played flute. I was not bad, but I did not play very passionately.

Discography:
Haydn, Beethoven, Chopin, Rachmaninoff (2000)
"Songs for Piano by Magdalena Galka" (2002)

Homepage:
Magdalena Galka