Pianist and Jacobs School professor Andre Watts dies at 77

[TygrBright]

A sad loss of one of my early musical heroes...

Pianist and Jacobs School professor Andre Watts dies at 77

Watts made his national concert debut when he was 16 years old with Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic. Shortly after, he was asked to substitute in place of Glenn Gould with the Philharmonic. That performance is credited with launching Watts’ career.

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He received the Avery Fisher Prize in 1988, a top honor for American classical musicians. He was the youngest recipient of an honorary doctorate from Yale at 26. In 2011, Watts received the National Medal of Arts from President Barack Obama, and in 2014, he was inducted into the American Classical Music Hall of Fame.

Watts performed with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra and Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center.

“The first thing I ever wanted to be was a writer, and somehow that didn't work out,” Watts said in the same interview about his career. “I wanted to tell stories. So now, as a concertizing pianist, I'm reduced to trying to tell stories at the piano through music.”

I had a serious crush on him after seeing him perform with the Minnesota Orchestra in the early 1970s. He was a great pianist, and a compelling performer. I think I'll look out some of my old recordings of his, and see if I can get digital versions to add to my library.

Cross gently, dear sir.

sadly,
Bright

[elleng]

1. ;-(

[JohnSJ]

2. An amazing pianist

[MuseRider]

3. Oh nooo

He played with our symphony. He gave me chills when he played. He would sit there so in love with what he was doing and at the same time he looked at every one of us and held our gaze as long as we could go without checking back with our parts. I have played with so many famous musicians, he will always be my favorite (or maybe Brubeck) OK both. A kind and giving musician and apparently a kind person.

Bright, I think any of us after seeing him or playing with him could ever get over the experience. RIP Mr. Watts, I will never forget the stunning opportunity I had to play with you. It was an absolute honor AND a lot of fun.

Beethoven piano concerto #5 The Emperor

[TygrBright]

4. Oh, my, MuseRider, that must have been a divine experience

And I use that term very precisely... to be part of a performance of that work, with that soloist, must have felt like an elevation to divine experience.

Thank you for sharing that... I can imagine and vicariously get a thrill.

appreciatively,
Bright

[2naSalit]

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