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At 99 Years Old, A Musical Prodigy Rediscovers her Piano Passion

From: Emily Berman
Length: 04:29

Ruth Antine began piano lessons when she was 7 years old, and has hardly missed a day since. Now, 92 years later, she tells the story of her days as a world-class concert pianist, and how she keeps up her skills after so many years. Read the full description.

Piece Audio

Playing: At 99 Years Old, A Musical Prodigy Rediscovers ...
From: Emily Berman

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Ruth Antine began piano lessons when she was 7 years old, and has hardly missed a day since. Now, 92 years later, she tells the story of her days as a world-class concert pianist, and how she keeps up her skills after so many years. Emily Friedman attends one of Ruth's concerts at her Bethesda retirement home and finds out why playing the piano has been Ruth's life-long calling.

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Piece Description

Ruth Antine began piano lessons when she was 7 years old, and has hardly missed a day since. Now, 92 years later, she tells the story of her days as a world-class concert pianist, and how she keeps up her skills after so many years. Emily Friedman attends one of Ruth's concerts at her Bethesda retirement home and finds out why playing the piano has been Ruth's life-long calling.

Broadcast History

Aired on WAMU's Metro Connection on 2/10/12

Transcript

Ruth Antine began piano lessons when she was 7 years old, and has hardly missed a day since. Now, 92 years later, she tells Emily Friedman the story of her days as a world-class concert pianist, and how she keeps up her skills after so many years.

FRIEDMAN:

Ruth Antine wakes up around 3 in the morning. She gets dressed, hooks her music bag on her walker, and heads downstairs. There’s a room in her retirement home that has a tv, some chairs and a piano. And by no later than 5am, she’s sitting at the piano, ready to begin.

(La Berceuse starts)

Ruth: Here's some of my audience. Shall we wait till they come on.

Three other residents stream into the room as the morning goes on. Breakfast just finished, so this is when the concert usually begins.

Ruth: Hi girls.

Girls: Hi

Ruth: They all have their favorite pieces, see? I'm not so good anymore. I do the best I can!

(La Berceuse b...
Read the full transcript

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

Ruth Antine began piano lessons when she was 7 years old, and has hardly missed a day since. Now, 92 years later, she tells Emily Friedman the story of her days as a world-class concert pianist, and how she keeps up her skills after so many years.

OUTRO: