Lang Lang and London's Pen Quartet

Debunking the cliché of a critic being nothing more than a failed artist is an understandable demand on the part of this noble guild, which includes many imposing personalities. It conceals a great modesty that I propose to reveal by mentioning the innumerable examples of great pianists, violinists or conductors who would not be where they are had they not miserably failed their primary vocation, the dream of an entire lifetime shattered by ruthless competition: the position of music critic for...