Anderszewski's
work ethic came as no surprise to Gilmore Director
Daniel R. Gustin. "You've got to think of these
artists as athletes and they're at the Olympics,"
he said. "All he's concerned about is the 50-yard
dash."
As Anderszewski
said his goodbyes to his Gilmore hosts and gave
each a hearty hug, there was a sense it was over
too soon for both his hosts and their distinguished
guest. With all the Gilmore hard work behind him,
Anderszewski seemed ready at last to have fun.
"When
does my flight leave, 5?" he asked. "We have loads
of time. Let's have a nice lunch. It's such a
beautiful day."
Juanita
Nash, the Gilmore's director of operations, shook
her head and steered him toward a limo that would
drive him to Chicago, where he was flying back
to his home base of Paris for several concerts
this week.
"Juanita
is an angel," Anderszewski said of his Kalamazoo
tour guide. The feeling's mutual, according to
Nash, who called Anderszewski "delightful." "He's
very sincere, very genuine, very humble," she
said.
Most excursions
that Nash and the self-described "purist" Anderszewski
took in the area were to D&W, Sawall Health Foods
and the People's Food Co-Op for soy products,
seafood delicacies and the special blends of tea
he likes. The amateur chef cooked most of his
own meals.
The few
impressions Anderszewski did have of Kalamazoo
were of delicate beauties that local residents
take for granted: the vibrant tulips painting
the landscape of Bronson Park, the amber beauty
of a bottle of maple syrup at the food co-op,
the farewell call of departing trains.
"This
I will really miss," he said as a train whistled
through downtown.
"This
train is fantastic. The sound they make -- gorgeous."
Asked
how he expects his life to change as a result
of the prestigious and profile-enhancing Gilmore
Artist award, Anderszewski seemed more sure of
what things will remain the same. "I do things
my own way," he said with a nod, and added that
he has no plans to change.
The Gilmore
fits into that plan hand-and-glove. Anderszewski
called the Chopin Competition in his native Poland
"nonsense," and he left the only piano competition
he's participated in -- the 1990 Leeds Piano Competition
in England -- in the middle of a performance he
deemed unsatisfactory. He said he's had enough
of competition and that he finds the Gilmore's
surreptitious approach to naming its Gilmore Artist
every four years very refreshing. The judges look
at a body of work by viewing live performances
and videotapes, and the contestants are unaware
they're being considered for the award.
"This
makes sense to me," he said. After joking that
he'd spend the $300,000 Gilmore Artist award on
sports cars (actually, only $50,000 of it comes
in cash), Anderszewski admitted to having some
plans to pursue artistic projects "very dear to
me" and said he's considering investing in a larger
rehearsal studio than the one he now uses.
The lavish
treatment doled out to him by the Gilmore Festival
overwhelmed the performer, although he's had a
successful career performing with such orchestras
as the Munich Philharmonic, the London Symphony
and others over the past 12 years and is no newcomer
to success.
"It's
different because I didn't come here just for
a concert," he said. "It's usually not like this,
nothing like this."
A group
of backstage volunteers even ordered specialty
teas in tins embossed with the pianist's name.
He pocketed a tea tin and a soy yogurt from his
well-stocked kitchen on his way out. Then he started
tying up garbage bags and tidying up.
Nash smiled.
"Piotr," she said, "we can take care of that."
While
Anderszewski claims to be a neophyte to the superstar
treatment, he said he's ready for success on his
own terms. "Freedom to me is my major priority,"
he said. "If that works together with being a
superstar, why not?"
Elizabeth
Clark can be reached at eclark@kalamazoogazette.com.
© 2002
Kalamazoo. Used with permission
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