John Granholm writes: (snip) I've watched concert artists put up with a lot of audience noise and distractions, but I'd never seen one do this from the stage in the middle of a performance. Some years ago Isaac Stern came to town to give a performance in our big ornate Keith Albee theater. It was a packed house. Edward McDonald, Sterns accompanist, had just begun the opening measures of the Mozart Sonata they were playing. Mr. Stern had just made his entrance when a TV news cameraman appeared just on the other side of the footlights and began to film. Stern stopped playing, McDonald stopped and turned to see what was going on. Stern had the camera guy fixed with a "DEATH GLARE" and said in a voice that NO ONE in the house missed. "Young man. Stop that at once!.....this is MOZART!! And he waited until the guy exited the doors at the rear of the house. As an aside to this....this happened on an early September evening when the temperature outside was still in the 90's. Stern had insisted that the air conditioning be turned OFF!! Great concert and not a dry seat in the house;-) Paul E. Dempsey, RPT Piano Technician Sr. Marshall University Huntington, WV 304-696-5418 304-617-1149
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