“Written in a dressing room, the words ‘to be born with talent is to continually chase perfection,’ rings true for internationally renowned pianist Teresa Walters. They are words she herself quoted after her performance with the TSO on Saturday night. 

Performing Beethoven’s Emperor Concerto No. 5 as a special guest artist, Walters said it is always an honor to play a piece composed by Beethoven, but more so with people so dedicated to the music.

“I think it’s wonderful that you have the resource of this orchestra in the community,” Walters said. “These people go about their profession throughout the day and then come together at night to rehearse and they give it their all.”

Arriving on Friday night, to unexpected weather and a lack of winter boots, Walters rehearsed with the orchestra before performing an awe-inspiring rendition of “Emperor” that received a standing ovation.

“One of the members said to me that they do not do it for the money, but for the love and I immediately replied that this is the only reason to do great music. There is never enough money in the world to pay for music by Beethoven, but he belonged to all the world, not just the country in which he was born.” 

Considered Beethoven’s most popular piece and final concerto, TSO music director and conductor Matthew Jones said the piece touches all levels of emotion. 

“It’s a piece of music that has enthralled generations of human beings. It’s amazing how that piece reaches us.” 

Walters said she learned the piece as a student and has been playing it professionally for about a decade. “It is such a classic and magnificent piece,” she said.

Living in the New York City area and traveling the globe to play her music, having earned her doctorate from the Peabody Conservatory, Walters has played New York’s Carnegie Hall, the great Hall of Moscow and the Salle Cortot in Paris. International tours take her from Japan to Australia and from Israel to Brazil.

“Someone once wrote a dissertation about how long classical musicians live, and some live well into their 90’s, still performing and composing,” Walters said. “I think it is the quest to always improve and the constant striving to reach perfection and to be true to the recreation of a great composer that gives musicians a reason to get up in the morning.”

“She’s a wizard on the piano,” Jones said of Walters. “She is a world class performer and we were fortunate to have her. She brought a grace and gentleness to the performance that was not lost on our audience.”

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