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One day each summer for about the last 50, JANOS STARKER would arrive at the Colbert office -- in the beginning (before our time) over at 105 West 55th St. and, since 1973, at our current Steinway Building offices -- with several bottles of the very BEST champagne to celebrate with us the life in music we all shared. He opened the bottles with flair and poured each glass with a toast and good wish for each one of us -- from Ann Colbert who, with her husband Henry, signed Janos in June 1958 -- to Agnes Eisenberger, who worked for him until her death in 2002, to each and every assistant, bookkeeper and receptionist. Much affection was shared along with the wine. We had the pleasure of hearing Starker in many live performances of works too numerous to mention (although one performance of the Kodaly Sonata for Unaccompanied Cello will stay with me always). He educated and thrilled us and set a standard of music making in our ears and hearts and minds that has informed much of our own work -- and probably spoiled us forever. But over the last decade Chris Putnam and I have been active with Janos Starker more as guardians of his late career teaching and legendary masterclasses. We especially recall a day we spent with him at Temple University in 2009. By that time he was walking more slowly and asked for support climbing the steps to the stage. Any concerns about his stamina fell away when the first bow touched a string; Starker was fully engaged, animated, demandingly strict but full of good spirit and humor -- the master teacher he had always been. His insightful comments addressed the technical issues of each student very specifically, but also drew us all into finding the breath, space, the Air necessary to bring the music alive. It was literally inspiring -- to us and certainly to the students at hand. I hope it is a memory that stays alive for them as it has and does for us. We learned of Janos Starker's death a few hours after the fact on Sunday morning, April 28. The staff of Colbert Artists Management sends heart-felt expressions of sympathy to his family and to all whose lives he touched; so many. -- Charlotte Schroeder |
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