Dear Angela,
My husband and I seemingly moved heaven and earth to make it to your piano recital last evening in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. A cancelled business trip to Germany, a cancelled evening in Montreal with a delegation of doctors from around the world, last-minute scrambling to find tickets from your long-ago sold out concert, last-minute repairs to a suddenly ailing car, and -- finally -- we were seated in the beautiful Cornwall recital venue.
Was all that chaos worth it?
You bet it was!
Despite the fact that I seldom attend live concerts -- too easily disappointed, I guess, or perhaps the far-away sound is no match for either my own Steinway (apologies to your Fazioli, but I also love my Steinway!) or to the immediate sound from first-rate CDs -- your recitals are the exception. I have, on more than last night's occasion, driven hours to hear you play live. You are so exceptional and so inspiring and so original that no distance is too great to travel to hear you play. I am sure your legions of fans feel likewise.
Thank you for your Rameau of last evening! It introduced his music to me in such an incredibly fresh way, that I am eager now to learn more, especially about his wonderful ornamentation. Yours last evening was as phenomenal as it was ethereal and joy-filled. Had the concert begun and ended with the Rameau, I would have gone home happy. However, you proceeded to charm your packed-hall audience with so much more, including some well-warn warhorses (Beethoven's Sonata "Pathetique", Schumann's "Scenes from Childhood") which, in your hands, but more importantly under the influence of your rich, chameleon-like spirit, became new again. The music was not only reborn; it was transformed.
It was heartwarming to visit briefly with your mother again -- what a sweet lady! -- as well as with yourself after the concert.
Best wishes in your upcoming Bach World Tour (the new website looks wonderful!). We very much look forward to your next performance in Montreal next March.
By the way, many musician friends here in Montreal and I are eagerly awaiting your new DVD on the performance of Bach. We can only imagine how valuable and enriching it will be.
Fond good wishes, with thanks as always,
Margaret Hofmann