Famous comebacks

[pianoplayjl]

Which pianists have made a comeback after retiring due to injury, illness, stagefright, old age etc.

JL

[starstruck5]

    Can't think of one -but I'll give Alfred Brendel a call later -see if he is up for a comeback.

[pianoplayjl]

If I remember-Leon Fleisher and Gary Graffman both hand some hand problems and so retired. I think it was their left hand obstructing them from playing. Fleisher made a recent return to the stage, and I read on the blog that he was already giving some master classes.
Byron Janis had athritis and so had hand surgery.

JL

[bruced]

Murray Perahia :

The following is copied from Wikopedia :

In 1990, Perahia suffered a cut to his right thumb, which became septic. He took antibiotics for this condition, but they affected his health. In 1992, his career was threatened by a bone abnormality in his hand causing inflammation requiring several years away from the keyboard, and a series of operations. During that time, he says, he found solace through studying the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. After recovering, he produced a series of award-winning recordings of Bach's keyboard works in the late 1990s, most notably a cornerstone rendition of the Goldberg Variations.
 
In early 2005, Perahia's hand problem recurred, prompting him to withdraw from the concert stage on the advice of his doctors. He cancelled several appearances at Barbican Centre, as well as a 10-city national tour of the United States, but returned in fine form with recitals in German cities in 2006 and at the Barbican in April 2007.
 
In autumn of 2007, he completed a triumphant 10-city tour of the United States and conducted master classes in Salt Lake City, Utah. Owing to his hand problem, and on the advice of his doctor, Perahia cancelled a February 2008 solo recital at Barbican Centre and a tour in the United States with the Academy of St. Martin in the Fields (March and April 2008). He returned to the platform in August 2008, touring with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra under the direction of Bernard Haitink, and had an Asian recital tour in October and November.


Just to add a personal touch to this : I was at Perahia's "historic" return to Carnegie Hall in the early 1990's: a most memorable moment.

Regards,

[bruced]

Then there are the famous multiple "returns" of Horowitz :

from Wikipedia :

Despite rapturous receptions at recitals, Horowitz became increasingly unsure of his abilities as a pianist. On several occasions, the pianist had to be pushed onto the stage. Several times, he withdrew from public performances - during 1936 to 1938, 1953 to 1965, 1969 to 1974, and 1983 to 1985. He made his television debut in a concert taped at Carnegie Hall on February 1, 1968, and broadcast nationwide by CBS on September 22nd of that year.


Regards,