<<  -- 5 --  Bill Newman    MIND MY HARPSICHORD!

Making decisions after I was pushed out of CBS became very difficult for me because of a period of illness. Years later, I saw the name of Igor Kipnis as one of the contributors to International Piano Quarterly (to give the magazine its current title) and Classic Record Collector (formerly ICRC). I had noticed also, correspondence with The Gramophone, and articles for American trade magazines, like Goldberg and Early Music. For internet music he wrote for Stereo Times and Music & Vision.

This was the Igor of old. Informed, clever, dead keen, funny, above all still the record connoisseur-collector who never (thankfully) grew up. Up to the time of his passing, he was on the faculty of Mannes College of Music, New York, entertaining with lectures on piano style and interpretation. In 2000, he was touring California, performing and lecturing on Baroque music, as well as piano performance, at Occidental College, UCLA, Cal State University in Fullerton, and the Colburn School.

I eventually had to write, and received back a photo where he looks like a benevolent high court judge with long hair at the sides, now grey but still smiling. There was a letter which speaks for itself, together with much publicity that shows him in a new role as duo pianist with Karen Kushner. There was also a CD, recorded live.

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