My dear friend and teacher, Renato Premezzi has left this world. He was in his mid 80s. He started to have health issues about 6 years ago or so. About 3 years ago or so was the last time I saw him. We went out for dinner and then he visited with us for the rest of the evening. He gave me a box of of books on his last visit. Just to keep safe until he returned to get them. I put them away and didn't really look at them. That is about to change.
He played my piano every visit here and I am so fortunate to have captured some of it on video and audio.
I played in a couple of recitals with Renato and even did a Mozart/Grieg duet with him in front of a pretty packed Eaton Chapel at Beloit College. Talk about nerves!
Of all the teachers I have had in my life, Renato had more impact on me than all of the others combined.
I am humbled and honored to have been his student.
I will miss him.
Posts: 13634 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 20 April 2005
I'm so sorry, Mark. I think we're all at the age where we are losing people who have been teachers and mentors. It's not easy.
But....the music he loved lives on in the students he taught.
-------------------------------- We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here is to observe, to learn, to grow, to love… and then we return home. - Australian Aboriginal proverb
Bazootiehead-in-training
Posts: 37873 | Location: Somewhere in the middle | Registered: 19 January 2010
We attended the memorial recital for Renato this past week. My daughter drove all the way from New Hampshire to attend. She played Jimbo's Lullaby from Debussy's Children's Corner. I played the Goldberg Variations Aria and many more students traveled from all over to perform, or sent video performances. We played on a 9ft Petrof in the First Congregational Church, which is one block from Beloit College, where Renato was the chair of the music department for many years. The college disappointed all of us because they would not allow it to take place on campus "due to covid restrictions".
It was a wonderful tribute to an amazing teacher, friend, husband to Nina, and father to Valentina. Valentina is 8 years old and played a duet that Renato arranged just for them. An old friend and student of Renato's played his part of the duet. It tugged at the heart strings on so many levels. Nina and Valentina flew in from Naples, FL that day and left the next day. They both gave short, emotional eulogies, and there was not a dry eye in the place.
I saw this photo of him with Michelangeli for the first time at the memorial. I love the smile on Michelangeli's face. You can see the joy on both of their faces.
Posts: 13634 | Location: Wisconsin | Registered: 20 April 2005
