Here is another prodigy, 13 yr old, Alexandr Malofeyev plays with the orchestra Grieg. Concerto in A minor, II--III mov. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYyzHDzhns&t=21s). It was 10 yrs ago. He is 23 yrs now. I went to his solo concert last month - amazing! - it seems like he channels these composers.
I was lecturing in Adelaide, Australia, in 1990. David Helfgott was the "entertainment" for the conference. In the Ayurvedic system of healing, he would be described as "vata deranged". His talent was immense, but his concentration was fleeting. He married an astrologer named Gillian Murray who showed me his horoscope. Years later, Gail and I went to see the film "Shine" and I whispered to her, "Gail, that has to be David Helfgott playing!" The audience went "Shhh" but it was a little bit into the film when we realized that it was indeed based on the David I had met.
I did not like how he was depicted in the film. I know, it won awards, but it is not fair to think of him as eccentric. He was probably burning inside because his nerves were raw. He craved liquids. He would jump into water on the campus of the university where the conference was held. He craved mother's milk and something to drink.
Gillian took him to various music conservatories in Europe. Among the many questions he was asked was how he would interpret a piece of music he had never heard before. He said, "I would play it." This was an incomprehensible answer for music scholars, but I felt he was on a direct line to the original composers.
One thing suggested another to him so let's say he was playing a Chopin waltz at a party. I would walk closer to the piano; but the instant he realized I was there, he started playing the "Grand Canyon Suite". It was "American" and he identified me as an American. Would he ever finish the waltz? Not likely . . . as whatever jumped onto his radar would come next.
Obviously, this posed challenges to professional performances. Someone almost had to stand guard to make sure he played pieces beginning to end, but he was enchanting in his own way. He was like a puppy who couldn't stop wagging his tail. There was so much going on, and he was a part of everything, but he certainly wasn't socially mature. He did do "inappropriate" things, but they were only inappropriate if he was expected to act like an adult, not like an infant.
Later, I got heavily into this kind of psychic phenomena. There was an artist in Brazil who channeled famous painters. It is amazing. He was blindfolded and painted with both hands and feet. Then, the paintings were signed by Renoir and Rembrandt and whoever else was coming through. He moved so fast, like David, but was not "handicapped" when in his normal state.
For the record, the horoscope shown in the film was not what Gillian had showed to me.
I felt Lucas was really in touch with Rossini. The performance was enchanting, maybe delightful is a better word. I also loved seeing the children in the wings and how they could not stop waving their arms. Years ago, I sent some videos to the Congo and the children had the same kind of response to Rossini.
Bravo!!!
wow! no comments!
Here is another prodigy, 13 yr old, Alexandr Malofeyev plays with the orchestra Grieg. Concerto in A minor, II--III mov. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mjYyzHDzhns&t=21s). It was 10 yrs ago. He is 23 yrs now. I went to his solo concert last month - amazing! - it seems like he channels these composers.
Very interesting indeed.
I was lecturing in Adelaide, Australia, in 1990. David Helfgott was the "entertainment" for the conference. In the Ayurvedic system of healing, he would be described as "vata deranged". His talent was immense, but his concentration was fleeting. He married an astrologer named Gillian Murray who showed me his horoscope. Years later, Gail and I went to see the film "Shine" and I whispered to her, "Gail, that has to be David Helfgott playing!" The audience went "Shhh" but it was a little bit into the film when we realized that it was indeed based on the David I had met.
I did not like how he was depicted in the film. I know, it won awards, but it is not fair to think of him as eccentric. He was probably burning inside because his nerves were raw. He craved liquids. He would jump into water on the campus of the university where the conference was held. He craved mother's milk and something to drink.
Gillian took him to various music conservatories in Europe. Among the many questions he was asked was how he would interpret a piece of music he had never heard before. He said, "I would play it." This was an incomprehensible answer for music scholars, but I felt he was on a direct line to the original composers.
One thing suggested another to him so let's say he was playing a Chopin waltz at a party. I would walk closer to the piano; but the instant he realized I was there, he started playing the "Grand Canyon Suite". It was "American" and he identified me as an American. Would he ever finish the waltz? Not likely . . . as whatever jumped onto his radar would come next.
Obviously, this posed challenges to professional performances. Someone almost had to stand guard to make sure he played pieces beginning to end, but he was enchanting in his own way. He was like a puppy who couldn't stop wagging his tail. There was so much going on, and he was a part of everything, but he certainly wasn't socially mature. He did do "inappropriate" things, but they were only inappropriate if he was expected to act like an adult, not like an infant.
Later, I got heavily into this kind of psychic phenomena. There was an artist in Brazil who channeled famous painters. It is amazing. He was blindfolded and painted with both hands and feet. Then, the paintings were signed by Renoir and Rembrandt and whoever else was coming through. He moved so fast, like David, but was not "handicapped" when in his normal state.
For the record, the horoscope shown in the film was not what Gillian had showed to me.
I felt Lucas was really in touch with Rossini. The performance was enchanting, maybe delightful is a better word. I also loved seeing the children in the wings and how they could not stop waving their arms. Years ago, I sent some videos to the Congo and the children had the same kind of response to Rossini.