Stolen from “Legendary Musicians” on facebook. If too long just read last 2 paragraphs.
@pando possibly apocryphal but a wonderful story.
"One of the most famous anecdotes about Itzhak Perlman happened during a concert in New York. Perlman, who had polio as a child and walks with difficulty using crutches, made his way slowly to his seat on stage, sat down, and began playing. But early in the performance, one of the strings on his violin snapped with a loud twang.
The audience held its breath, expecting him to stop and replace the string. But instead, Perlman simply closed his eyes for a moment, then signaled the conductor to continue. He proceeded to play the entire piece on just three strings, reworking the fingerings and shifting positions on the fly.
When he finished, the crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Perlman smiled and reportedly said, “Sometimes, it is the artist’s task to find out how much music you can still make with what you have left.”
The story has become legendary—not just for its humor but for its deep message about resilience and artistry."
