I only found about Alice Ott recently, and very shortly after that I discovered she was diagnosted with Multiple Esclerosis (ME) 2 years ago.
Well, you know doctors... When they say someone with a given disease can have a normal life today thanks to new generation of drugs, it's nos really normal, and can be the end of a career. Despite that I want to be optmistic, for Alice Ott, since some people with ME keep mild symptoms for years and respond very well to treatment, while others don's have such luck.
In the case of a so prime pianist like Ott, the problem is that even a slight symptom can affect the quality of a performance to the point of became a problem.
The hope of people with ME is that scientists tested a new type of mRNA vaccine adapted to treat ME without reduce immuni system strength or create side effects. In mouse's they found the vaccine was able to make the immune system to became tolerant the the coating of neurons (myelin), which is attacked in people with ME and so affecting the function of neurons.
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aWc wrote:Actually, I did mention that Alice Sara Ott "thing" to the audience...when I had to take my own shoes off at a performance last fall (could not feel the Steinway's damper pedal with my stiff "going out" shoes). Rest assured, my socks stayed on (feet nowhere as pretty as ASO's, not to mention she is an infinitely better pianist)
Most importantly, of course, Alice Sara Ott is a wonderful pianist and musician.
We should ask Organteq's users about play barefoot, since organ pedalboard require a lot more precision than piano pedals.
It would be a bit funny watch a organist playing barefoot a huge church organ, broadcasted worldwide. :-)
Last edited by Beto-Music (06-01-2022 01:11)