Izumi Tateno A pianist with the Left Hand

Izumi Tateno is an 88 years old pianist. I listened to him playing a piano quintet together with Iwamoto Mari string quartet, which I wrote about in a previous post. It was at a hall in Tokyo in early '70s.

He must be in his late '30s of age. He has confidently showed up on the stadium. Maybe, it was not too long after he had started his career as a pianist. I must admit I could not recall of what composer's quintet he had played. Possibly, Sinding. I am not sure. The scene of the rendition is still clear in my memory. 

He might have achieved a fame as a pianist for Scandinavian composers. Having lived either Japan or Finland alternatively, he has done a great job. But in 2002, he has suddenly suffered from cerebral vascular accident which left him right paresis. It was an almost deadly trouble for a professional pianist. I heard of the news with deep sadness. 

He has revived as a left hand pianist not too far from that event. I have listened him playing the Concerto for the Left Hand by Ravel either on radio or TV. He seemed to have lost his Finnish wife recently. In a recent interview to him, losing his wife, he told he had been doing house chores by himself and was living by himself. He was telling that in a gentle smile. He was still practising piano for 3 hours everyday. It might be short for a professional pianist. But considering of his age, it's still amazing. He still carries on playing piano at various places, either in Japan or even in overseas.

In a concert cerebrating his 88th of birthday, he has played 4 pieces. Two of them were works composed by Northern European composers. The last two, one an arrangement of a nursery rhyme by Kohsaku Yamada, and the other Ave Maria by a baroque composer Caccini arranged for the left hand, are most impressive.

He said, in the end of the concert, his age might prevent him from visiting there again, far from his home. In a few seconds, he denied that and would visit there again in the future. In a big smile all through that statement.

What is making him so positive for the future? Despite of his handicap, or the event which looks like a handicap to us, and loss of his beloving one, he is still going ahead with that big smile. It seemed like a miracle to me.

  

Half a century since I listened to him in live! Wishing him good health and mellow performance activities.