YUKO KAWAI
pianist
34
28/12/15 00:00
[Yuko's Leg Rehabilitation Diary - 34]
Akiko Ebi - a Japanese concert pianist living in Paris, a prizewinner of the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition, the Long–Thibaud–Crespin (Marguerite Long–Jacques Thibaud) Competition, the Leeds International Piano Competition, and the chairperson of the 8th and 9th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (from 2012 till 2015) and - a jury member of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition - she sent me an email before the competition, in September 2015. She thought that we would be able to meet in Warsaw in October. I wrote back to her that I couldn't walk - describing my leg situation and apologised to her for not being able to go to Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, where the competition was held.
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She read my email and was surprised, and immediately phoned me from Paris to Warsaw. We talked very long - for over an hour. She asked me about the details, what had been happening to my legs. I told her everything. She listened to me and gave me very good advice, as if we were a family. Her truly warm words, honesty and sincerity moved me.
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Akiko Ebi is the person who actually saved Martha Argerich's life, when Martha had the surgery in the US for her cancer. Akiko Ebi cancelled her own concerts and followed/helped Martha. Akiko Ebi knows how to help someone and she has always helped - also me.
photograph:
With Akiko Ebi, after her recital at Polish Radio Concert Studio S-1, Warsaw, August 2010
Akiko Ebi - a Japanese concert pianist living in Paris, a prizewinner of the 10th International Chopin Piano Competition, the Long–Thibaud–Crespin (Marguerite Long–Jacques Thibaud) Competition, the Leeds International Piano Competition, and the chairperson of the 8th and 9th Hamamatsu International Piano Competition (from 2012 till 2015) and - a jury member of the 17th International Chopin Piano Competition - she sent me an email before the competition, in September 2015. She thought that we would be able to meet in Warsaw in October. I wrote back to her that I couldn't walk - describing my leg situation and apologised to her for not being able to go to Warsaw Philharmonic Hall, where the competition was held.
---
She read my email and was surprised, and immediately phoned me from Paris to Warsaw. We talked very long - for over an hour. She asked me about the details, what had been happening to my legs. I told her everything. She listened to me and gave me very good advice, as if we were a family. Her truly warm words, honesty and sincerity moved me.
---
Akiko Ebi is the person who actually saved Martha Argerich's life, when Martha had the surgery in the US for her cancer. Akiko Ebi cancelled her own concerts and followed/helped Martha. Akiko Ebi knows how to help someone and she has always helped - also me.
photograph: With Akiko Ebi, after her recital at Polish Radio Concert Studio S-1, Warsaw, August 2010