Wrong setup – George Enescu

Famous Romanian violinist, composer, pianist, conductor and teacher George Enescu (1881-1955) was once asked by a distinguished fellow compatriot to take care of musical career of his son, who had ambitions to become a violinist.

Unfortunately, that boy was not musically gifted but since Enescu owed a big favor to his friend, he agreed to do it.

He tried really hard to teach the boy how to play, but his efforts were without much success. Through his contacts he even managed to arrange him a debut concert in the Gavo Concert Hall in Paris.

Since he didn’t have the courage to ask of some pianist to accompany the unskilled violinist on the stage, Enesku took on himself that ungrateful task.

Before the concert, he asked the audience if there is anyone willing to assist him by turning pages for him while he is following the violinist. Alfred Cortot, at that time the most famous pianist in France, volunteered immediately.

As might have been assumed, the concert was a disaster.

Two days later, daily newspaper Le Figaro published a review of the concert. The article was brief, but eloquent:

”Last night, at the Gavo Concert Hall, a curious event took place. It was a violin and piano recital at which the man who played the piano should have been playing the violin and the man turning the pages should have been playing the piano, while the man playing the violin should have been turning the pages!”

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The Prince – George Friedrich Handel

Famous German composer George Friedrich Handel (1685-1759) spent many years as a composer and music teacher on the English court.

On one occasion, the Queen asked him what he thought of her son’s progress in learning to play cello, and when will her son become a true virtuoso.

Not knowing what to say about the performance of the future king, Handel said:

“Well, His Majesty is playing like a...prince!”

The Queen understood these words the way it suited her, so she decided that the Prince would perform in one part of Handel’s grand concert.

When Handel saw the future holder of the crown on the podium with a cello in his hands, he immediately disappeared from the concert hall.

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Jealous teacher – Sean Connery and Steven Seagal

While filming “Never Say Never Again” (one of the films about British Secret Service agent James Bond 007), Sean Connery (1930) was taking martial arts classes. However, during one class, an angry teacher broke his wrist.

Sean Connery claimed that the teacher did it out of pure malice because he himself wanted to become an actor.

And who was Sean Connery’s martial arts teacher?

 

Steven Seagal (1952), who later played leading roles in action movies “Machete”, “Marked for Death”, “Above the Law”, “Under Siege”, “Hard to Kill”…

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Good Man: Gregor Piatigorsky!

Gregor Piatigorsky (1903-1976), the celebrated Russian cellist, was also an outstanding teacher.

However, he had difficulties with a young cellist who somehow could not progress. Despite the efforts of his teacher, to show him how to play, he was constantly making mistakes.  Instead of progressing, the student played even worse.

Thinking that maybe his perfect playing is discouraging his student, Piatigorsky himself started making mistakes while playing in front of him.

- You see, it can happen to anyone - he said to his student while playing the wrong notes.

This attempt proved to be effective, and the student eventually graduated. After graduation exam, congratulations went to both of them.  

- There is no need to congratulate to Professor - disdainfully said the young cellist. - He is really a nice man, but as far as playing, the poor guy has no idea – he is constantly mistaking!

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