Dutch pianist dies at 50
RIPThe funeral will take place next Monday in Hilversum of the much-liked Dutch pianist Folke Nauta.
Suffering from focal dystonia, Folke took up the left-hand works commissioned by the one-armed Paul Wittgenstein and became a leading authority. ‘The quest gave me the opportunity to explore a new horizon in addition to the mourning process for my right hand, he said.
Extremely saddened by the news… What a loss ! How young !
Folke was a wonderful person, a great artist and an old and dear friend. Thanks Erika Kennedy and him, I was able to attend Pr. Jan Wijn’s lessons in Amsterdam, at the Conservatoire, in 1995. He took the trouble to settle all the administrative details, guided me in the building, introduced me to the Maestro and took the trouble to translate every Dutch word with utmost care.
I’ll never forget his warm smile and unaffected manners. May he rest in peace.
Very sad to read this. He played in several projects that I conducted at the former Sweelinck Conservatory. A gentle soul and a brilliant musician.
This is shocking and tragic news. This past week I’ve been thoroughly enjoying Vol. 1 of the Left Hand Legacy. Probably the best recording to date of Franz Schmidt’s masterpiece, the Clarinet Quintet in A. The prospect of having all of the Wittgenstein left-hand commissions recorded is thrilling. I hope Folke’s untimely death doesn’t derail it, but he sure set a high standard that’s going to be hard to follow. RIP.
A kind and gentle man, a brilliant pianist. We pray for his sould and for his wife and children.