This short video is a fascinating study in the reaction to panic. The subject is virtuoso pianist Maria Joao Pires, who faces a performer’s worst nightmare - she prepared for the wrong piece.
Her fear and dread is palpable. It’s a real life enactment of that dream many of us have about arriving to take a final exam, only to suddenly realize we haven’t attended a single lecture. Except this version plays out in front of a live audience.
You can tell she has that feeling we’ve all had at one time or another in our lives, the desire to have the earth open up and swallow us. I won’t spoil the ending but watch the video below to see how she handles this challenge and think about whether there’s a lesson here.