Death of a disappointed piano star
RIPWe have been informed of the death this week of Minoru Nojima, president of the Tokyo College of Music.
He was 76.
A child prodigy, Minoru was visibly upset when he came second to Cristina Ortiz in the 1969 Van Cliburn Competition. His reaction can be seen on this video, at 3:02.
Later he became a victim of the Joyce Hatto fraud.
Not a lucky man, but an outstanding artist. Watch.
I hate to say it but I don’t see any “visibly upset” in that backstage video when the winners are called. What I see is a guy who keeps his cool and congratulates an exsultant Ortiz.
I am in complete agreement – he does look upset at all.
Oops – auto-incorrect … doesn’t* look upset …
Immer nur lächeln und immer vergnügt,
Immer zufrieden, wie’s immer sich fügt.
Lächeln trotz Weh und tausend Schmerzen,
Doch wie’s da drin aussieht, geht niemand etwas an.
Scho- umlaut- n!
Dieses ist ein scho-umlaut- nstes Gedicht!
I can’t see anything about him being ‘visibly upset’ although he was no doubt naturally disappointed. He appeared to keep his dignity very well and congratulated the winner afterwards.
As to the Hatto scandal, he was one of the many who included such luminaries as Ashkenazy and Hamelin.
I must confess to knowing little or next to nothing of Nojima. But from the evidence of his Liszt Mephisto Waltz- a very brilliant pianist & deserving Cliburn laureate.
Why does Lebrecht always put such a negative spin on everything? It seems to me that Nojima reacts with good form to his loss.
Not seeing a visible upset guy but a great 2d placed one happy for#1
I spent many hours enjoying his Liszt album on Reference Recordings.
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kuL0irkoKBrJtd9d_Wf4roVVVGFMgw-vI
Me too, Bill, along with his superb ‘Nojima Plays Ravel’. Minoru Nojima was a wonderful pianist whose reaction to a 2nd place finish in the ’69 Cliburn competition was both generous and graceful.
I had forgotten about that, thanks for the reminder!
Upset would be setting the piano on fire. Which he did playing Brahms.
Does Ortiz actually get up from the piano before the conductor has finished conducting the work?!! As if to say “I’m done. That’s all that matters here.” One of the most outrageous things I’ve ever seen!
That’s what I thought too… how astonishingly conceited!
What an utterly idiotic take on his death…to dredge up some half-baked reaction that seemingly only you had. I guess you’re laughing all the way to the bank as we all fall for the click-bait, as usual.