Hi folks this is interesting! Thank you for speaking up.
Sidokar and Bennevis---I guess I should have said something sooner--and maybe my original post was stated indelicately---I have never said that "ego" as a motivator was a bad thing. The list of great great things that are the results of one person's ego is long and glorious. Unfortunately, the list of bad, evil things is also long. Ego is what it is.
I'm thankful that Pollini and Zimerman have ego enough to give us what they do. Same for Picasso, Rodin, the Beatles, and all other good folks.
Meanwhile, deciding to become a concert artist: yes, I guess for most that's a fairly early decision (not for Rachmaninoff). Assuming you have very positive feedback from some trusted and very knowledgeable mentor, or other such, you have an idea that you are good enough, perhaps brilliant. And you know that part of the reward could be fame and love and appluase. But from the start, success is not guaranteed, and meanwhile there's rent to pay. So---what is the motivation? What I'm hearing now is--it could be interesting, I'm obliging my colleagues. That could work for me, or you. But (and of course, I don't know for sure) I doubt that would be enough sustain a genius concert player to continue.
Now--if you do not become a concert artist, and never could, and never thought of it--in short Joe Schmoe (me)--if you have no special talent, sooner or later you get a job. There may be room to rise, maybe not. Maybe you work at rising, maybe not, depending on your ambition. Meanwhile, you're not on stage, you have no fans, your only reviews are yearly job reviews. I found this fairly satisfying--low profile, low risk, enabled me to buy a house and save enough for retirement. But no wonderful, brilliant excitement on stage, no applause, no fame or fans. My amateur and pro playing was very satisfying, ego-wise, but not enough to pursue as a vocation.
Obviously, I'm not in "the professions"--medicine, law et al--too much work, too much risk. I'm too lazy.
Sidokar--re "I found it interesting as another experience in life"--and I'm joking here, to some degree--I've been offered some "experiences" too, but my ego would not allow some of them (hehe). And then there are the experiences of Bennevis--marathons, mountain climbing, skydiving--wow!
Bennevis--re "You clearly do have ego as a reason for doing what you do"--yes I do, and I said so, right above where you said this. You do not quote my earlier statement--"And the main reason I post videos of this is to make some record that they [THE OLD SONGS] existed". I certainly don't deny the ego involved--I consider it to be in a good cause. A tiny, maybe inconsequential cause, but a good one. Certainly better than Stalin's.
Finally, quickly--Ive never been at the point where I attend enough concerts to get very picky about which one to attend. To me, almost any big name pianist is good to see/hear. However, due to laziness and aging habits, I'm unwilling to travel 25 miles and park in a city. But Bennevis--you're right. I wouldn't see Horowitz if he played all Nono show.
off subject, kinda--Yefim Bronfman came to a neighboring town and played in a very small hall at a private school--I'm guessing a connection there--and played a very full show, including both Gaspard and Islamey, a very enlightening Beethoven sonata (maybe 2 of them) and some other absolute fingerbusters. Cost me bupkes, and a 10 minute drive. If it had been all Nono, I would not have attended. But otherwise, anything was good enough. it was great. But it would have just as great if it were Pollini. So maybe I have no discernment.
