September 23, 2005
Hello Gershon,
I was the guy that came after the concert to thank you for baring your soul in the manner that you did. My wife and I were extremely emotionally touched by your presentation. Although you said that you were not looking for sympathy and that is not what this message is about, when you played the "why did you go in the water?" piece of music (prayer?), it tore at our heart strings.
Going to a concert and listening to technique, touch, feeling etc etc but as a spectator, from the outside looking in, is one matter and that is what usually happens. This was something very different; I have never heard any recital (and I have attended many concerts of all sorts of music played by all sorts of great orchestras and soloist musicians) that achieved the level of emotional cry directly from the heart, that we were a part of last Wednesday evening.
Your piano and the sounds that you coax from it are much more than melody and counterpoint, Wow ! Your piano gives you a means of communication at an emotional level that I have never before encountered.
I don't easily cry, and especially at musical concerts, however, it was difficult not to be all choked-up when that music ended. It was a profound experience and I thank you.
Please let me know when and where you will be performing from time to time.
Regards,
Michael Ruskin
Microdea Inc.
Tel (905) 881-6071 X261
Fax (905) 881-5943
mruskin@microdea.com
www.microdea.com
Date Sent: 1/2/2006 12:52:53 AM EST
Name: Meshullam Hirsch
Email: meshullamisrael2000@yahoo.com
Subject: Piano Concert of Gershon Wachtel
B"H
My wife and I want to thank Chabad for organizing the piano concert of Mr. Gershon Wachtel. We want to thank Mr. Wachtel especially for sharing the personal insights of his life and his virtuosity.
We thank him most of all, though, for the gift he gave us this last night of Chanukah. It was, like prayer, a service of the heart.
King David sang, "There was no sound, there were no words," so I felt the Voice of Ha-Shem speaking into my own life and resonating in my soul. We saw the colors Gershon's agile fingers painted on the keys, creating landscapes of kingdoms in time and the passage of souls.
Gershon art takes him to places only he can go, and he brings back sentiments of those realms. Tonight he brought us with him.
44 MIDDLEWAY
LONDON NW1 I 6SG
TELEPHONE: 020-8455 3505
FAX: 020-8458 7480
MOBILE: 07710-170030
BS"D
July 6, 2004
Gershon,
Just a brief note to say a big "Yasher Koach" and to express my warm appreciation of your visit to London a few weeks ago.
(Firstly, as Gabbai, I am grateful for the way in which you "accepted" Maftir and Mussaff without any fuss - something most unusual in Chabad circles!).
The evening with you at The Arts Club was truly inspirational and moving in the extreme. Even my usually restless son, fifteen year old Sholem, didn't move a muscle. My wife couldn't be there, - she was flying to visit our daughter in Montreal at the time. However, we have since watched the video together, and she was simply mesmerized. Your stunningly beautiful music, and your ability to communicate with such depth - both through the music itself and verbally --- was something that I found truly magical and absolutely unforgettable. You should know that, together with everyone privileged to be present, I derived tremendous chizzuk from the whole experience.
May Hashem bless you and your family In all things, begeshem uv'ruach, and may you continue to be blessed with the koach to do so much good, bringing true Nachas to the Rebbe z"ya.
With many thanks again and all my very warmest good wishes to you and yours,
Freddy Hager
freddyhager@aol.com
19th Sivan 5764
June 8th
Dear Gershon
Just a short note to thank you again for a most wonderful performance.
I must say that you are one of the most gifted and talented people I have had the privilege to meet. I shall always cherish your visit to Wimbledon, and I thank you for inspiring me and my community.
Although we are geographically distant, and I have had only 24 hours to get to know you, I feel that we have much in common. I look forward to our continued friendship.
Have a safe journey home and please give my best regards to your wife and family.
May Hashern bless you. that you continue to inspire us all - in good health.
Very best wishes
Nissan Dovid
