Julius Asal on the exploring darker emotions

When I was younger I read a lot of Kafka and Büchner: I’ve always been drawn to the darker side of things, and I think that part of the beauty of what we do as artists is to dare other people to explore it too. I wish the listener to invest something. Showing up to a recital isn’t like going to a gala celebration where there’s a firework-display at the end and you get a big hug. There’s no hug, not every time. Instead, there might be a big question which remains unanswered…

Julius Asal, pianist. Cited in: K. Cooper, “Julius Asal on Scarlatti and Scriabin”, Presto Music, 23 May 2024, https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/articles/5917–interview-julius-asal-on-scarlatti-and-scriabin, (accessed 25 April 2025).

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