Jorge Bolet and the Train Driver

Sunday, 21 October 1956, Åmål in Västra Götaland County, Sweden. 

Svenska Dagbladet says 'the famous American will visit the Music Circle of the School (Läroverk) here today'. 

The same newspaper report on 31 December 1960 the following:

'Mr Bolet suddenly showed himself to be very familiar with Åmål. He simply loved the little town. A few years ago he went there to give a concert. He came a day early. Therefore no one was down to meet him at the railway station.  The place was deserted and cold.  But Mr Bolet had a name on a piece of paper in his pocket. He picked it up and called the person in question. There was cordial contact and a very pleasant evening.

But that was not all. When Mr Bolet had given his concert and was on the train to Göteborg/Gothenburg, the conductor gave him a letter written in Swedish. 

A fellow passenger translated it. It read:  "It is an honour for me to drive the train on which such a skilled pianist as you is a passenger.  Deeply moved, Mr Bolet hurried off to the train driver.  Yes, he had been to the concert and had had a very memorable evening. "We sealed our friendship with sign language and a big hug. You understand that I could not imagine greater success than to get in touch with such a magnificent man from the Swedish people through music. You must all be good musicians, you Swedes. Åmål is my Shangri-La. I sincerely hope to come back to that town once more in my life."'