Playing It By Heart

About the Book

Nobody could have guessed that my favorite child´s toy would later save my life and that of fellow World War II fugitives. My professional career developed, after iimmigrating to the United States, to include: concert artist, prizewinner, concertmaster, conductor, and university professor. Working with great artists, such as Géza de Kresz, Serge Koussevitzky, Lotte Lenya, Dame Eva Turner, Aaron Copland, Robert Shaw, Samuel Barber, Gregor Piatigorsky, and Marilyn Neeley enriched my musical and personal life. Marrying Marilyn, my sonata partner, has brought me my greatest happiness: a caring, loving, and musical family, including son, Andrew, without whose support I would not be able to cope with my affliction of twenty years. Recently the Franz Lizst Academy awarded me the Golden Diploma and Liszt Ferenc Medal for fifty years of invaluable contributions to the music profession, a fitting ending to a successful career.

About the Author

“. . . one of the great players of our time.” - The London Telegraph “Best conductor to visit here this year.” (1970) - Jornal do Brasil “Robert Gerle and Marilyn Neeley – man and wife – gave us probably the finest duo playing in London during Beethoven Year.” - The London Times