<<  -- 13 --  Bill Newman    AFTER ANTAL DORÁTI

'After he had finally gone, they both came here early. Starker was very close to Toni. But he must be close to eighty -- three years older than I. So I wonder if he is still playing? Yes. Maybe? I am sorry he doesn't play the Doráti Concerto any more. He played it a lot, and there is no one round to play it. For the 100th birthday, hopefully someone will perform it. In England, Bobbie (Robert) Cohen played it. Is he still around?'

Perhaps I should get in touch with Pierre Capuçon and ask him to perform it. He is twenty-one years old -- a marvellous talent who I first heard at the Berlin Festival, then in London at the Wallace Collection and a year later in Spoleto. A silky tone, very little movement of the bow. He just lets the music sing out. He has an equally talented elder brother who is a violinist.

Piano interlude

To illustrate the correct stylistic nuance, she performed a Schubert Impromptu -- the G major from the first book. 'I am out of practise, you know. I haven't played for over eight months.' But you retain that natural gift and spontaneity of how the piece should sound. 'It stays inside you.'

Continue >>