The Passing of an Era…

I am deeply sad today.  This year has had it’s share of depressing moments, but in the space of 1 1/2 months I have lost my two biggest inspirations.  Please allow me to pay tribute….

There are two people who shall be forever intertwined in my musical life:  my dad is one.  Alicia de Larrocha is the other.  My dad died on 13 August after a month long illness.  I miss him every day.  This man, by the end of his life, had forgotten more about music than most people will ever know.  The list of greats he saw live is breathtaking.  He would talk about seeing the original Budapest Quartet play on the LOC Strads.  He would talk about seeing opera at the old Met.  Erica Morini, a fabulous violinist almost completely forgotten today, remains one of my favorites, simply because my dad introduced me to her wonderful recording of the Brahms concerto.  Dad sang in choirs for more than 60 years, had a fabulous ear, and a wonderful musical mind.  This is what shaped me as a young musician.

And then there’s Alicia.  Pianists always argue – is it Horowitz?  Rubenstein? Whomever?  Pianist always glom onto whomever can play the fastest octaves, the loudest chords.  But me – there was always something in this poetic 4’9″ wondrous artist from Spain that I simply couldn’t resist.  Of course it was my dad who first introduced me to her artistry.  He insisted we go every time she played in Buffalo during my youth.  Way to pick a roll model, Dad!!!

Through the years I would always ask my dad what he was listening to, where his musical thoughts were.  And through the years every chance I could get I would attend concerts by Alicia.  Beethoven Concerto #IV; Mozart Sonatas; whatever.  Of course the masterpiece of her repertoire was Goyescas by Enrique Granados which I saw her play live twice.  Her recording is still the only solo piano recording I have on my iPod.  The beauty of it leaves me speechless.

My dad retired several years ago.  An aging philosopher, he and my mom bought a house on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution.  It is a comfort for me to know that despite the pain of the last month of his life he had the opportunity to live in this incredible place for 20 years, soaking up the summers in a way that only those who seek new knowledge could quite enjoy.  Though I am sure he didn’t have the energy to participate in much in the last couple of years I am sure he just enjoyed being there.  It was a fitting place for him to retire.

Alicia retired in 2003.  I respect her as an artist for that, although it made me deeply sad to know I would never hear her play again.  Knowing that she retired I finally felt that it would be ok to play Goyescas.  I wouldn’t dare while she was still playing – it just didn’t seem appropriate.  This year I started working on the set in earnest.  I will play them for the first time in February and record them next summer.

But I am sad.  My dad will never get the chance to hear my play these wonderful pieces.  I’m sure he would have enjoyed the experience, and being a dad he would have been very proud of his son.  And I am sad again because I was just about to reach out to Alicia, to ask her is I could play Goyescas for her in April when I’m in Europe.  Now I will never have that chance.

In one way it is almost poetic.  At some point every artist must step past the people who shaped them and forge their own path.  Now I must find the artistic courage to step out of the shadow of my father and my idol.  It will not be easy, but it is necessary.  In February I play Goyescas, and the performance will have a dual dedication –

To Berkley Eddins and Alicia de Larrocha – may this performance make them proud.