Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Oh fudge, now Mikhail Pletnev in trouble too

This was a concerning part of the story in the Huffington Post:

Pletnev denied rumors that he would flee Thailand. He is under a court order to remain in the country.

"I would jump from the 26th floor (of a building) tomorrow, if I could believe those news reports. It's interesting to learn something new about myself every day," he said.

I surely hope that someone is keeping an eye on him. People caught in such situations can become desperate. As others have said, either way his career and life will not be the same.

I'm just SO excited to read that Kreisler is playing video games! YAY!

Actually there is a light rumor in Greece about pianists being gay and all that, but being married with two children counters that pretty well. Also NOT being a pianist helps!

Another saying by Hatjidakis was that "musicians in Greece are either communists or gay. I'm not communist!". It does seem that this kind of thing (bad pianists, gay, etc), goes around in various variations.

On the Pletnev issue: It's hard to say really. There's tons of questions to be answered really. And to be perfectly fair, I've seen some 14-15 year old in London SO grown up that anyone could be fooled to think they are 17.

And yes, from my part, Thai is considered a sex dealings destination. But, sadly, his career will be shaken by this, no matter what. And of course it could be assumed that this is the result of a blackmail going wrong (Pletnev didn't give in, so they damanged him in this way).

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There are VERY heavy rumors about priests, etc, here in Greece about both gay and pedophile issues. Stories get on the news very often and the whole 'profession' has been damaged by these news. Musicians are nowhere near as damaged as priests are.

Of course the question has to be asked does hot housing a child encourage aberrant social behaviour somewhat à la Michael Jackson? Does separation from their peers at a very sensitive time in their development have later consequences? I'm also thinking Beethoven here.

I think that's probably the case - it stands to reason that a child will be less likely to deviate from social norms when they're in an environment in which they're rigidly enforced.

And children do nothing if not rigidly enforce their norms!

This is my philosophy. If anyone thinks I'm gay because I play the piano, I don't want to associate with them anyways so it doesn't matter what they think.

Outrageously talented people often "hothouse" themselves without any help from the world, and often don't have much interest in being "normal". Frankly, I'm glad Beethoven was Beethoven. I realize it is selfish of me not to wish he were just another well-adjusted mensch, but that's just how I am.

Schubert was suspected of being a pedophile? I have never heard this before.

For some people anything that is not "married in the missionary position with the lights out" is all the same kind of undifferentiated sexual depravity. They are also usually the ones who are most interested in the rumors of others' as well.


http://www.nybooks.com/articles/archives/1994/oct/20/schubert-a-la-mode/

So, accordingly, being that you're "in the field" you're guilty of condoning this type of behavior, yes?

I think there is a difference between condoning behaviour and enabling behaviour. Whenever any one of us presumes that the alleged victim/whistleblower is a troublemaker who is curtailing a brilliant career through their (almost certainly wrong) allegations we enable this bad behaviour.

The power relationship is so one-sided that it is almost unthinkable for a pupil to expose the inappropriate behaviour or advances of their teacher, particularly if the pupil sees this undesirable situation as the price you pay to make it to the top. And this is, time and time again, the way students who have been the target of the sexual attentions of their teachers see it - an unwelcome byproduct of their pursuit of brilliance......

I'm completely OK with rigidly enforcing the social norm that teachers do not attempt a sexual interaction with their students, and I'm vociferously OK with rigidly enforcing the social norm that adults do not engage in sexual interaction with children and underage teenagers.

At the very least, it's a bad look for someone in middle age to find themselves in Thailand having sex with a 17 year old.

But anyone who becomes a priest or minister is likely to have been brought up in an environment in which social norms were rigidly enforced.

Welp:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/crimes/185701/russian-maestro-leaves-thailand-for-moscow

Not really.

Don't mean about you or anyone in particular, just in general.

And if what you mean is that it "works" in Greece, we take your word for it.

As much as I am sickened by this type of behaviour, it is not that simple to bring these teachers to justice. First you need to find willing victims who will come out of the closet and testify. Even if I whistle blow, I will not have the financial capability to fight a prolonged civil suit that will result from this. The only hope is for them to be caught in the act, like what happens to Pletnev now.

Seriously? What an ignorant statement you just made. Being gay has nothing to do with paedophilia.

I am not implying that gays are paedophiles. I am okay with homosexuality, but not paedophilia. I am just illustrating that this profession has quite a high proportion of people with alternative sexual preferences, at least in the city where I stay, not sure about other places though.

I think it's a sign of progress in Thailand that these charges are being brought into the open. But I frankly doubt they would have been if the alleged perpetrator wasn't 1) famous; 2) foreign; 3) possessing of deep pockets.

Even in a "progressive" society like the United States, such charges are often swept under the rug.

And yes, most Western societies recognize that there is a vast difference between homosexuality and pedophilia. But in other societies, pedophilia is quietly tolerated while homosexuality will get you beheaded.

No, that's organists!

Well, where do you live? That information matters.

I am a gay pianist, and know several gay pianists at my uni, but my teacher is straight and there are other straight male players as well. Its a tricky situation, really. Every profession has these types of problems. The education system in general, where adults are dealing with kids all the time, has pedos. But I'm sure every occupation has these problems. I just don't like the idea of people claiming that piano players are more inclined to have 'peculiar taste'. I can understand the stereotype of male players being gay; thats understandable because its very true (even though there were MANY amazing, very straight players, like Rubinstein to name only one).

I do have to say though, this news is pretty shocking. And if Pletnev is guilty he needs to face the consequences. I mean... being Russian, and owning a house in Thailand... that raises my eyebrows. Especially since that country is well known for its child sex industry. Pletnev is a wonderful pianist too, IMO. Just a shame.