Interpreting music is for me - discovering and finding myself in what composers have written.
Contrary to what many believe there is a space for a lot of freedom within the process of interpreting classical music.
I would not say that that freedom could only exhibit itself within restricting limits, as I heard someone say, although that might be true to some degree, I would rather say that it comes with and from the respect, understanding, recognition and embracing composers' style, epoch, sensibility, imagination, and mind-frame, and combining and expressing that through ourselves with our own sensibility, imagination and personality.
Of course, when that recognition, compatibility, and ability to relate to a composer is deeper, we 'get' more freedom to express his or her music in our own authentic way. I hope that makes sense ?
It is like composers get to live again through interpreters, or are 'collaborating' with them. When the whole process is spontaneous and when it is at its best, the composer and the interpreter - become one.
And you get an unforgeable interpretation, authentic and unique in every way to that particular interpreter.
Photo: Maria João Pires, Athens, February 2023 at 'Megaron - The Athens Concert Hall' - Ms Maria being one of the greatest living pianists whose playing beautifully illustrates what I wrote above.
Its like when a musical instrument "interprets" a tone, coloring it with its own mix of overtones.