Murray Perahia

thumb|Murray Perahia Murray Perahia (born April 19, 1947, in New York City) is an American concert pianist and conductor. Quotes Jewish Chronicle interview (8 February 2008) I sat reading in these chairs and felt somehow, in an abstract rather than a religious way, that suffering shapes you. Not only my own religious thought, but that of my ancestors, affected me in some way. The thing we have as Jews is that it’s a wonderfully abstract religion. Images are not allowed, so it’s welcome to abstract thought. I wouldn’t play it in public — you need different muscles, you can’t use the upper arm, just the fingers. But the sound has a glow, because the strings aren’t damped, as on a piano. I wanted to visit Bach’s sound world, then apply those ideas to the piano. Of playing the harpsichord. In the Bronx, we had three synagogues on one block at 161st Street. My father was Orthodox and we went to the Sephardi one. Further along was the Conservative, the biggest. In between was the Ashkenazi shul. And guess who was their shabbos goy? Colin Powell! I’m deeply grateful to be Jewish. I feel it’s enriched my life and I feel very strongly about Jewishness. External links Category:1947 births Category:Living people Category:Musicians from the United States Category:Pianists from the United States Category:Jews from the United States Category:People from New York City Category:Conductors from the United States Category:Wolf Prize in Arts laureates