16. João Carlos Martins: The Maestro Finds New Hope
"With these bionic gloves, I am able to touch the piano with my ten fingers. I don't have dexterity, but what is important is delivering emotion to the audience."
EPISODE 16 | 23 min | Jun 20, 2024
Renowned Brazilian pianist and conductor João Carlos Martins is as famed for his musical brilliance as he is for the trials that have defined his journey.
A child prodigy, João Carlos shot to international fame early. "His technique sends fireworks in all directions", wrote a New York Times critic of his debut at Carnegie Hall when he was 21 years old.
Soon after that, João Carlos was losing the use of his hands due to focal dystonia, a neurological condition that causes involuntary muscle contractions. He persisted, he says, by “tricking his brain” to perform with the world’s leading orchestras and record Bach’s complete works for keyboard. However, an accident, dozens of surgeries, and a brutal mugging no longer allowed him to play piano professionally.
At age 63, João Carlos reinvented himself as a conductor. Just when it seemed his story had reached its crescendo, an extraordinary thing happened. In 2020, thanks to a pair of “bionic gloves," the 79-year-old musician gingerly slid his fingers across the keyboard once again, albeit not with the same fluidity.
One wonders, though: How did his loss of dexterity affect his relationship with music? And now that he is playing with his 10 fingers despite his limitations, has his connection with the piano remained the same?
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