Guestbook

Dear Angela, Sunday a friend and I attended your wonderful performance at Montreal's Pollack Hall, especially for which I had driven back from some grandmotherly babysitting duties in Peterborough, Ontario! You provided a treat that made every minute of the trip worthwhile. Although we managed a quick word afterwards, I did not tell you about the young man who sat next to me during your recital. He was a final year piano performance student at McGill who sat bolt upright throughout, obviously fully involved in your playing. During the intermission he confided that he had never much cared for Mendelssohn. However, your performance of his Prelude and Fugue in E minor and his Variations in D minor had totally revolutionized his thinking, and he couldn't wait to investigate further. In answer to another gentleman's query as to whether he was now feeling discouraged after hearing you play, or did he perhaps feel inspired, the student replied, "A little of both. But I can't wait to rush out now to practice, practice, practice. But that's great! Surely that is how it should be!" Angela, you inspired that young man who is looking ahead to a possible career in music, just as you inspire all who are fortunate enough to hear you play. Godspeed with the rest of your musical journey, and thank you once again for your magical gifts. Keep well. -- Margaret Hofmann

Dear Angela, Since I too had an Uncle John, my mother's brother, who enlisted in the RAF and lost his life at the age of 22, I empathise with your story. On the day of his death I was exactly 6 months old - the first of the new generation, and therefore the only one to have 'known' him. I too am the only member of the family to have had the opportunity to visit his grave - one of 24 war graves in a quiet corner of the cemetery at Clermont Ferrand, at rest in his father's homeland. Best wishes, John.

I flew to Chicago to see you play the Goldberg this past May. So WONDERFUL!! I have never had such a spiritual experience in a concert before. I also just watched your performance at Verbier Festival. BRAVO!!! You motivate me to keep practicing and your devotion to your art has become a model for me. THANK YOU from the the bottom of my soul...

A brief note to say how much I am loving your new recording of the WTC. There are so many great performances of this work, but I don't know another one that lives and breathes in the same way as yours. I was interested to see you made it in the Jesus Christus Kirche in Berlin. So many of my favourite recordings have been made there: Kempff playing the Beethoven concerti with Leitner in the 1950s, Gilels playing the Brahms concerti with Jochum in the 1970s. That is fine company to keep and it is fantastic to add you to that list!

Dear Angela Hewitt, I have loved your recordings for years now, as I loved hearing you play WTC II in New York. This morning as I took a long walk in the park here in NYC I listened on my iPod to your glorious Rameau CD. I feel I should finally take a moment to thank you for being who you are, and for bringing so much beauty and joy into the world through your playing and your personality. I love reading your blog. Good luck on the Janacek!