Customer Reviews

Piano Music for Four Hands

"Partita" is the title of the French original. It is the life story of Michel Mailhoc who, at age five, became the student of the well-known pianist Nicolau Anderiu. The boy has great talent and grows up to be a very good pianist indeed. But life?s cards are stacked against him. His teacher leaves him, and Michel flounders. From important concerts he sinks to playing in a piano bar and finally gives up playing altogether. He now tries to compose, but cannot get it together. The many women in his life leave him because there is nothing to him beyond the piano.

In his middle age, he becomes the tutor to his grand-niece Emma, also age five. She is a true genius and, as she grows up, easily outgrows him and leaves on her own career. He is now left behind, alone with his dog, in his old house.

It is a somewhat sad and melancholy story, rather typical for a French writer and perhaps too slow and morose for our tastes.