Published: Thursday, 9th October, 2008 08:30
Mystery illness interrupts famous pianist's concert
By Rose Harland
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Pianist Radu Lupu, who was taken ill during his performance in Reading
Pic by: John Garfield
CONCERT fans were left stunned when world famous pianist Radu Lupu was taken seriously ill during a performance at Reading Town Hall.
The 62-year-old maestro has since been flown home to Switzerland and it is unclear when he will be able to resume his schedule.
Sunday’s performance at the Concert Hall was a near sell-out and 620 music lovers had paid up to £22 each for tickets. Leslie Wood, 68, from Bracknell, said: “When he came out, I knew very well there was something wrong with him by his gait. He looked a very, very ill man and looked very haggard. He looked white as a sheet and was holding onto a rail as he walked up on stage.”
Mr Lupu was able to play two Beethoven sonatas, number nine in E major (Opus 14, No. 1) and number 10 in G Major (Opus 14, No. 2), but then had to take an unplanned break.
He returned to play Beethoven’s sonata number eight in C minor (Opus 13), but he did not return after the interval to play Schumann’s Fantasie. A Tannoy announcement told the packed hall: “Mr Lupu cannot continue. He has been taken very ill.”
Mr Wood said: “We were all in a state of shock. There was nobody there to advise us what we should do or whether we would get our money back. I paid £9 for my ticket, minus the discount for OAPs, but that is quite a bit out of my pension. I bought it months ago to be sure of getting a ticket, because he’s one of the great pianists. Unfortunately, because he was ill, in one or two things he didn’t seem to be his usual self. He went through it mechanically.”
The pianist had suffered severe stomach pains and struggled to complete performances in Southampton and Bristol last week. The Reading recital was the final date of his British tour.
Mr Lupu’s agent Helen Turner confirmed yesterday: “He is currently having tests in Switzerland to see what’s wrong with him. It is quite worrying. He’s got a unique gift that nobody else has. It is recognised by most other pianists and the public in general.”
Agency manager Terry Harrison said he had never known the pianist stop in mid-performance before, but he said Mr Lupu told Concert Hall staff: “It is impossible to go on. I just feel terrible. I can’t concentrate.”
He is next scheduled to appear in Brussels on Wednesday but Mr Harrison does not know whether it will go ahead.
Dan Harris, general manager of Reading Arts and Venues, apologised for the “unavoidable inconvenience” and said: “We would like to thank the many patrons who have contacted us to pass on their get well messages.
“We informed the audience with regular announcements across the venue paging system which I witnessed myself. As you would expect, we had our full complement of front-of-house staff on duty who were clearly visible and dealt with patrons’ questions after the announcements.
“We are currently in discussions with Mr Lupu’s management regarding a financial settlement for this concert.”
Anyone seeking a refund should contact the Concert Hall on 0118 960 6060.
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