Pianist, 90, gives 90-minute unbroken recital

Pianist, 90, gives 90-minute unbroken recital

Daily Comfort Zone

norman lebrecht

April 15, 2022

If you have never heard Ingrid Fuzjko Hemming, you should.

It may well be you’ve never heard of her.

Born in Berlin in 1932 to a Swedish father and Japanese mother, Ingrid grew up in Japan and returned to study music in 1960s Berlin.

Ten years into her career, she lost her hearing. Treatment in Sweden eventually restored it.

She will turn 90 in December. This remarkable recital was given last month in Slovakia.

Comments

  • Jeffrey Biegel says:

    Inspirational. Blessed. Beautiful. She makes the world a better place.

  • Robert Holmen says:

    Hooray for Ingrid!

  • David B says:

    Thank you for this! She’s a phenomenal pianist and I’m happy to see that she continues playing brilliantly. Her singing tone is exquisite.

  • Teresa says:

    Bravo!!!!!

  • Ms.Melody says:

    Astonishing for any age! Got bless the great Lady with many more good years.

  • William Boletta says:

    Fujiko Hemming still gives recitals in Japan, where she now lives. She has recorded extensively and has an avid following, particularly among young women. A documentary about her quite interesting life and career appeared on TV in Japan some years back. She is a national and international treasure.

  • WP says:

    It goes without saying that this is quite extraordinary! What I find interesting is how she conceives the music in these very broad tempi, not necessarily slow but “broadened out”. It is clearly NOT a question of technical limitations – watch her runs, or the final chords of the Rhapsody! Many people seemingly conceive music this way once they reach a certain age. One exception was Nathan Milstein, in his 80s (I remember his Beethoven op 30 nr 3 in Carnegie) played everything at whirlwind speed.

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