His performance was already perfected in the rehearsal studio. He does not want to derogate from it.
In the concert hall as well everything should sound as on the recording: perfect.
A musician can’t afford to take any risks. To ensure a perfect performance, all uncertainties have to be eliminated.
A musician will not easily be affected by a location.
I asked a clarinet player of an orchestra that played my composition to play a note that is almost out of reach.
He told me: I can’t do that, because it won’t sound perfect.
I asked him to try anyway, since it was my intention to express the struggle for something hard and almost out of reach.
He refused.
He told me he can only play music the right way with a good, refined sound.