A victory for Russian diplomats? For geo-political common sense? Phooey. Obama wants Polish pianist Krystian Zimerman back in the States! After upsetting the Polish government, delighting the Kremlin, and making the first step in rolling back America's image as superabundant imperialist military superpower, one tangible consequence of Barack Obama's decision to abandon plans for a missile shield defence system in Poland and the Czech Republic is that the brilliant, fastidious Polish virtuoso now finds the way clear for him to play in America again.
Just five months ago, he told his audience at the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles that America should "get your hands off my country", and said he wouldn't play in America because of Obama's apparent commitment to continuing Bush's Eastern European plans. Now that Zimermam has got his way and Obama has made his U-turn, will the mercurial Polish genius be back to play in the US? I hope so, for the sake of American audiences - and when he does, Obama should have a front-row seat.
