Menahem Pressler: ‘I’m here tonight thanks to a brave surgeon’
mainLast New Year’s Eve, the former Beaux Arts pianist Menahem Pressler made his Berlin Philharmonic debut in a Mozart concerto at the age of 91. It was a tremendous occasion, but Menahem wasn’t feeling that great.
When he got back to the States, doctors told him he had an inoperable heart condition and could not fly again.
‘Inoperable’ meant no surgeon would operate on a man of 91. Except one.
Dr Virendra Patel of Boston took a look at his condition and agreed to repair his aorta with the insertion of a unique, custom-made stent.
Tonight, Menahem receives the Echo Klassik Lifetime award.
To watch Menahem in conversation with Dr Patel, who explains the procedure, watch here.
Fantastic !!!!
Yes, your surgeon was wonderful …. BUT :
Who was your Anesthesiologist ?????
j.a. , md
Retired Anesthesiologist
(NO It was not I !!)
and also , of course: who were the other’s in the room !?? Circulating Nurse, Other Nursing staff, O.R. Manager, Surgeon’s Tech Assistant, Chief Resident in Surgery …
My point is merely that a great number of people were ‘on your side’ during you O.R. and post-O.R. experience .. and i’m sure you do understand that, … I just want to ‘brag’ for the others; I had absolutely NO role in your experience, tho yoU, sir, have supported me in that today’s WFCR radio presented your Boston performance on 2 July, 2017 !!! which I thoroughly enjoyed! A masterful work of art!
Thank you!
It’s a pity that the Germans can’t find a more dignified way to honour Mr. Pressler than this tacky, embarrassing Echo award garbage.
“The Germans” found a dignified way years ago, but its ok to vent air, if you feel better now.
http://www.bva.bund.de/SharedDocs/Downloads/DE/BVA/Pressemitteilungen/2012/PM_Einbuergerung_Pressler_pdf_englisch.pdf
The Echo is as tacky and embarrassing as any of these trophies each vanity industry awards to its committed evangelists on a regular basis, Oscars, Grammys, Emmys, Golden Coconut, Echo…
It’s a ritual as old as mankind itself. Soldiers are given medals for bravery, subjects of the crown are given rewards for loyalty, subjects of the Golden Media Calf are given fake trophies for their loyal services. It’s part of what it means to create purpose for committment to objectives which by itself are not worth it.
In a way I hoped something like this would happen…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsbhA64PvwA
Thank you for that, RW2. Though by myself here, I laughed aloud when I saw what lurked at the end of the link.
“I don’t belong here among all this rubbish.”
Menahem Pressler made his debut with the Berlin Philharmonic in January 2014 not New Years Eve, I attended a concert by him two weeks ago and he is a fantastic pianist and most significantly a great artist. No one else can play with such legato and expression in today’s music world.
http://www.berliner-philharmoniker.de/konzerte/kalender/details/20332/
Quote “der legendäre Menahem Pressler, der letzten Januar [2014] als 90-Jähriger sein umjubeltes Debüt bei den Philharmonikern gab”
Wow. The world is a better place thanks to people like Menahem Pressler.
Now, why on earth are the youtube comments “deactivated”? How low can you sink when your idea of having fun is to write offensive comments about a 91-year old pianist and a surgeon?
I think his Berlin Phil debut involved Semyon Bychkov a year or so earlier (in Mozart piano concerto no. 17), and the appearance with Rattle was his 2nd.
Forever grateful for these two virtuosi….
He gave us a superb recital this evening in Jerusalem. He began with Mozart’s A minor rondo and Beethoven’s op.31/2, followed by some Debussy and Chopin’s 3rd ballade. We look forward to his next visit.
We’re watching the Tv concert with Menahem Pressler. We love it! ❤