James is the consummate truth-teller about a life that can leave us with more unresolved questions than satisfying answers, but holds so much beauty that you don’t mind. And from his honesty about his own struggles with substance abuse to his decades of progressive activism, James Taylor has inspired people all over the world and helped America live up to our highest ideals. Thank you, James Taylor. (Applause.)
Without a preschool rivalry, we might not be honoring Martha Argerich. The story goes that when Martha was two years old, a little boy taunted her, saying, “I bet you can’t play the piano!” (Laughter.) So she sat down at the keys, remembered a piece her teacher had played, and played it flawlessly. By eight years old, she had made her concert debut. By the time she was a teenager, she left her native Argentina to study in Vienna and won two major international competitions, launching one of the most storied and influential careers in classical music. That little boy lost his bet.
Martha combines unparalleled technical prowess with passion and glittering musicianship. From Bach to Schumann, she doesn’t just play the piano, she possesses it. Martha can charge through a passage with astonishing power and speed and accuracy, and, in the same performance, uncover the delicate beauty in each note. As a critic once wrote, “She is an unaffected interpreter whose native language is music.”
But what truly sets her apart and has cemented her place as one of the greatest pianists in modern history is her dogged commitment to her craft. In an age of often superficial connections, where people too often seek fame and recognition, Martha has been guided by one passion, and that is fidelity to the music. She can only be herself. And that is the truest mark of an artist. And the result is timeless, transcendent music for which we thank Martha Argerich. (Applause.)
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