Video: Playing a perfect Mozart sonata on his 100th birthday
mainRandolph Hokanson, a Seattle-based soloist who studied with Harold Samuel and played concertos with Sir Thomas Beecham, turned 100 the other day.
At his party, he introduced and played the late Mozart G major sonata with concertmaster Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi.
Watch. It will restore your faith in … everything.
Randolph Hokanson was (and apparently still is) a terrific pianist. Maybe not a star but a really fine musician who was the rock of the University of Washington piano program for 35 years. And he looks amazing for 100.
I have never heard this kind of playing from a 100 year old! I remember seeing what decline did to Oscar Peterson, though there were probably health issues there too. I know Horowitz was great into old age too. However I think this performance is absolutely great and uplifting! A real tribute to the human spirit.
You can buy Randolph Hokanson’s autobiography–With Head to the Music Bent, a Musician’s Story–from the University of Washington Bookstore. The price is $15 + shipping.
Here is the link to place an order:
http://www4.bookstore.washington.edu/_trade/SearchUBS2.taf?_function=list&_searchsrc=external&_start=1
The link I gave is not working.
Try this instead:
http://www.bookstore.washington.edu/books/books.taf?
Then put With Head to the Music Bent in the title field, and click Go
Then click on the photo of the cover of the book, and the rest will be self-explanatory.
In 1965 I took piano lessons from Prof. Hokanson at the University of Washington, and I heard him play in public on more than one occasion. His extensive repertoire ranged from Mozart to Brahms to John Cage. I was delighted to listen to this birthday performance, and I congratulate both him and Marjorie Kransberg-Talvi. She herself is a former pupil of Jascha Heifetz.