No. 104994

Henry Meyer had no family -- they were all killed in the Holocaust. Last night in Werner Recital Hall at CCM, his adopted family turned out for a memorial tribute, to honor the distinguished violinist, teacher and Holocaust survivor who died in December.

It was deeply moving to see the hall absolutely packed, with extra chairs set up for an audience of about 300. Pianist James Tocco spoke eloquently about Henry, making points that we all knew so well -- that he was uncompromising in his professional life (I think many of his former students there, including myself, felt his wrath at least once!), that he had a passion for everything he did and that he was a hero who overcame so much but never made an issue of it.

"His legacy is guaranteed by the legendary recordings he made with the LaSalle Quartet," Tocco said. The evening included an extraordinary LaSalle recording made in 1972 of the "Cavatina" from Beethoven's String Quartet in B-flat Major, Op. 130.

Tocco pointed out that he taught all over the world, often with his good friend, Isaac Stern in workshops from Carnegie Hall to Switzerland, Paris and Israel.

"His music making will continue to live on as long as serious music lovers draw a breath," Tocco said.

The beautiful concert included Schubert's soaring "Adagio (Notturno)" for violin, cello and piano with Tocco joined by violinist Yehonatan Berick (a former CCM student of Meyer's and now professor of violin at University of Michigan), and cellist Lee Fiser, former cellist in the LaSalle Quartet.

The Amernet String Quartet (Misha Vitenson, violin, Marcia Littley, Violin, Michael Klotz, viola, and Javier Arias, cello) flew up from Miami to perform Mozart's String Quartet in D Major, K. 575 and Brahms' glorious Piano Quintet in F Minor with Tocco. The quartet sounded better than ever, more refined and expressive than I recall, and it was wonderful to hear them again. I think the Brahms left us all breathless. It's good to be reminded that such magnificent music exists -- we hear it all too rarely.

Dean Douglas Lowry spoke, too, about Henry, recalling humorous episodes such as the time he and Henry had to bum lunch off of Helen Levine (Yes, Jimmy's mom) because the restaurant wouldn't take American Express and neither had enough cash. That led to many funny memories being discussed at intermission. Inelda Tajo said when she and Italo came to Cincinnati, the quartet was playing lots of "modern" music (the Second Viennese School). She used to wag her finger at Henry and say, "Viva Verdi!"

On the stage was a beautiful bouquet of spring flowers, a gift of the Bethesda Quartet that Henry coached at CCM. The Korean quartet consists of musicians in wheelchairs -- another testimony to the power of music and the human spirit to overcome adversity.

Henry would have loved every minute.