Matt Garson introduces himself and asks about concerto soloists playing
without a score:

>More generally, is this a practice that is common among performers that
>I've simply never noticed?

It's very common.  There are a number of interesting questions about the
nature of the learning and memory processes involved that have not, as far
as I know, been fully answered.  It's also widespread practice amongst
conductors, even with music that - a generation or so ago - would have been
regarded as exceptionally difficult.  Undoubtedly there is sometimes an
element of "showing off" involved, but that does not detract from the feat
of memorisation required.

In my long experience of concert-going, the fact that a performer has a
score in front of him/her is no guarantee that he/she will not get lost
somewhere along the line!

Ian Crisp
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