This Steinway artist is 92 and a stroke survivor

This Steinway artist is 92 and a stroke survivor

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norman lebrecht

February 25, 2015

Don Puryear of Steinway Piano Gallery of Houston writes:
Last week in the Steinway Showroom, I met Betty Ruth Tomfohrde. She asked me to play Chopin’s Ocean Etude on the Horowitz Steinway for her, and after I finished, I asked her to play Chopin for me. I’m not sure what I was expecting….but I wasn’t expecting THIS!

Ruth is the mother of Janis Susskind, managing director of Boosey & Hawkes music publishers, who is happy for this video to be widely shared. Juilliard trained, Ruth was professor at the Moore School of Music in Houston, and regular recital partner of Andor Toth (Sr.), Fredell Lack, and Laszlo Varga.

ruth betty tomfohrde

h/t: Rosie Johnson

Comments

  • Mark Powell says:

    So Happy to See BR online!!!!

    One of my favorite musicians in the world. . . and as you can see. . . and excellent one.

  • Tom Melody says:

    All I can say is…WOW! Simply wonderful!

  • Barnett Carthey says:

    Unbelievable. This lady has more talent in her little finger than most of us do in our whole body.

  • Bill Marsden says:

    I was her student and just heard of her passing. She was such a great musician and a wonderful lady. She’s making wonderful music in heaven now. Rest in peace my dear friend.

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