Introducing Toronto-based piano virtuoso, Gershon Wachtel to a South African audience, Helen Heldenmuth of Sajact (South African Jewish Arts and Culture Trust), who brought him out, pointed out that all that we had left of previous generations was the work of their artists. Wachtel went on to play a series of medleys that took his audience on a trip of nostalgia, evoking the “nigunim” of Chasidic masters, shtetl life and the prayers and pain of the Jewish people. Interspersed with his musical performance, Wachtel entertained the audience with his life experiences, triumphant and tragic, both related without pride or bitterness, but with a remarkable sense of humour. This sense of humour expressed itself in several of the pieces he played, with his clever use of timing and choice of music. Wachtel's performance was well received and masterful in its variations - richly layered melodies and unique arrangement. At 54 Wachtel has many accolades to his name, not least of which is raising 12 children. He was selected as the accompanist for gymnastics for the Canadian Olympic team in 1978 and 1980 and most recently played his version of the Canadian national anthem to a standing ovation at parliament. When Wachtel first walked up to the microphone, heads craned to look over his shoulder as to who might be the star of the evening. Wachtel was, after all, dressed in a black hat and a long black kapota (coat). Holding up his bowtie, he remarked how easy it was to presume things about him from his dress, and how we often made a judgement call on someone merely from their external appearance. As he removed his kapota, and replaced it with a bowtie and the more traditional black coat and tails, he told his audience to remember that we all had more in common than we thought. It set the tone for an evening of introspection and pause, coaxed by Wachtel to spend more time praying and building a personal relationship with G-d. Wachtel described a journey to Orthodox Judaism which is dotted with small miracles and humorous anecdote. He once called up a rabbi to ask what tefillin were. The rabbi invited him to his house on Shabbat for a demonstration. Knowing very little but that driving on the Sabbath was forbidden he asked the rabbi what he should do. “Just come, its fine,” the rabbi replied. And thus, Wachtel says, he became one of the very few Jews in the world to ever put tefillin on for the first time on Shabbat. He described his spiritual journey in detail, from his aversion to beards, to walking into Chabad House and asking a rabbi to teach him the entire Torah, to quitting a Friday night gig only to have the bar burn to the ground the very next Friday night. Ten years ago, Wachtel vowed he would never play again, this in the week after his four-year-old son, Pinchas tragically drowned. Wachtel told the audience not to feel sorry for him, and related how he reached the point where he knew with absolute certainty that he would not survive the pain. “I told my wife, I can't live. And I really meant it. But I am alive.” The message he brought was one of hope and acceptance and the power of the heart to heal. Music brought people to a higher state, said Wachtel, and true to his word, his performance uplifted hearts and souls.
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.
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Regards,
Michael Ruskin
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.
Meshullam Hirsch
bh
R' Gershon,
I would like to thank you once again for a most amazing evening. Literally everyone (!) that I have spoken with really enjoyed the evening. It was a big Kiddush Hashem.
Please let me know the title of your CD's co that I can include that info in our weekly bulletin.
Thanks much and continued Hatzlacha in your important work.
Lubavitch Chabad of Northbrook
755 Huehl Rd (corner Dundee Rd)
Northbrook, IL 60062
Tel (847) 564-8770
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 arid 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 mesmerised. Your stunningly beautiful music, and your ability to con-u-i-iunicatc with such depth - both through the music itself and verbally --- was something that I found truly magical arid absolutely unforgettable. You should know that, together with everyone privileged to be present, I derived tremendous chiizzuk 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,
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