MY CONCERTS in Belgium, followed in March by several at Barcelona and Madrid, mark, so to speak, the beginning of my career as executant of my own works. In fact I had that year a whole series of engagements in various towns in Europe and the United States, and had not only to conduct my own compositions, but also to play my Concerto for piano and orchestra, which I had just finished.
While on this subject, I ought to say that the idea of playing my Concerto myself was suggested by Koussevitzky, who happened to be at Biarritz when I was finishing its composition. I hesitated at first, fearing that I should not have time to perfect my technique as a pianist, to practice enough, and to acquire the endurance necessary to execute a work demanding sustained effort. But as I am by nature always tempted by anything needing prolonged effort, and prone to persist in overcoming difficulties,
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Questia, a part of Gale, Cengage Learning. www.questia.com
Publication information:
Book title: Stravinsky:An Autobiography.
Contributors: Igor Stravinsky - Author.
Publisher: Simon & Schuster.
Place of publication: New York.
Publication year: 1936.
Page number: 177.
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