"Jorge is a monster!"

6 April 1958 (Sunday, 11am)

Teatro Auditorium, Havana, Cuba

Mozart No.24 in C minor, K491, Schumann, Rachmaninoff 3

Orquesta Filarmónica de la Habana/Alberto Bolet

Jorge's nephew Samuel Bolet described the concert to me in c.2010/11:

'Memories? I could share a torrent, even going back to my youth sitting in Havana's Auditorium flanked by grandma, my folks and others applauding the two uncles (Alberto conducting the Filarmónica, and Jorge at the piano).

'One unforgettable program featured what few pianists would dare: 3 concertos, back to back! The standing ovation at the end was short of apotheosic! Walking out of the theatre, my dad turned to his brother: "Ah, Jorge, why didn't you play an encore?" To which the soloist replied: "I just played 3 concertos. What else did they want? For me to cut my veins?" Later the same day my dad and I encountered the orchestra's concertmaster, who happened to live with his family in our same building.  His summary of the afternoon's concert? "Jorge is a monster!" To us in the family who loved him beyond his God-given talent at the piano, there will always be much to cherish in his legacy.'