When I was in college, the acclaimed pianist Andre Watts came to perform there. My parents were big fans, so I invited them to attend the concert, which was magnificent. We went back the green room to meet Mr. Watts, and because his mother was Hungarian (as were my parents) they greeted and complimented him in Hungarian. His eyes lit up, and he responded in Hungarian, and they carried on a brief conversation. I’ll never forget how kind and gracious he was — in addition to being a phenomenal musician. Today’s Beautiful Music features Andre Watts playing Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti. I’ve also included a link to his 1963 Young People’s Concert, complete with introduction by Leonard Bernstein. And finally, his interview in 1993 with Charlie Rose to mark the 30th anniversary of that big professional debut.
(9) André Watts Plays Scarlatti – YouTube
(9) Andre Watts, 1963 – YouTube
(9) André Watts Interview – YouTube