RIP Renato :(
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My dear friend and teacher, Renato Premezzi has left this world. He was in his mid 80s. He started to have health issues about 6 years ago or so. About 3 years ago or so was the last time I saw him. We went out for dinner and then he visited with us for the rest of the evening. He gave me a box of of books on his last visit. Just to keep safe until he returned to get them. I put them away and didn't really look at them. That is about to change.
He played my piano every visit here and I am so fortunate to have captured some of it on video and audio.
I played in a couple of recitals with Renato and even did a Mozart/Grieg duet with him in front of a pretty packed Eaton Chapel at Beloit College. Talk about nerves!
Of all the teachers I have had in my life, Renato had more impact on me than all of the others combined.
I am humbled and honored to have been his student.
I will miss him.
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"Now look here, you Baltic gas passer... " - Mik, 6/14/08
The saying, "Lite is just one damn thing after another," is a gross understatement. The damn things overlap.
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I’ve heard enough about him from you to know exactly who the thread was about when I saw the title.
He had a big impact on you and will live in in your memories.
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@george-k said in RIP Renato
:So sorry to hear, Mark. Renato studied with Michaelangeli, didn't he?
I remember you talking about what a great teacher and inspiration he was for you.
Yes. Renato studied for a few years with Michelangeli. He was also friends with Martha Argerich. I believe they studied with Michelangeli during the same time frame and became close friends.
Here is a photo of them from 1961. (I wasn't even born yet)
http://www.centromichelangeli.com/gallery.htm
Here is a recital of Renato, that was recorded in 1969 at the Brooklyn Museum.
Link to videoOur longest lesson was over 3 hours. We had no set time limit after about a year of lessons. Most of the time, they were over an hour.
One lesson he introduced me to a pianist friend who also happened to be a professor from Italy. I do not recall his name. He spoke no English. Renato told me to play the first Goldberg Variation for him, then got up and left the room. I played the variation. He spoke to me in Italian and I understood zero percent of the language he was speaking, yet, through his playing the phrases and talking to me the entire time, I "got" what he was telling me. It was an amazing experience. Renato came back about 15 minutes later and the translation ensued. I will never forgot that particular lesson. We discussed my phrasing and what he was trying to get me to try which was faster with more distinct articulation. Something I was working on but had yet to master. I don't think I ever did master it. lol
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We attended the memorial recital for Renato this past week. My daughter drove all the way from New Hampshire to attend. She played Jimbo's Lullaby from Debussy's Children's Corner. I played the Goldberg Variations Aria and many more students traveled from all over to perform, or sent video performances. We played on a 9ft Petrof in the First Congregational Church, which is one block from Beloit College, where Renato was the chair of the music department for many years. The college disappointed all of us because they would not allow it to take place on campus "due to covid restrictions".
It was a wonderful tribute to an amazing teacher, friend, husband to Nina, and father to Valentina. Valentina is 8 years old and played a duet that Renato arranged just for them. An old friend and student of Renato's played his part of the duet. It tugged at the heart strings on so many levels. Nina and Valentina flew in from Naples, FL that day and left the next day. They both gave short, emotional eulogies, and there was not a dry eye in the place.
I saw this photo of him with Michelangeli for the first time at the memorial. I love the smile on Michelangeli's face. You can see the joy on both of their faces.
