Gordon Henshaw wrote:

>If this treatment is required regularly then this hardly tallies with
>the fact that the concerts were announced around October and that her
>withdrawal came less than a week prior to the scheduled concert in Sydney
>on Jan 24 (and a further performance in Perth some days later).  One feels
>that perhaps we have not been made privy to all the facts.

The fact was fear of stress - the concerts were announced in October
but concerts are usually agreed to about 3 years in advance and this is
a relatively new, experimental treatment, in trials now.  She had time to
do both the precautionary treatment and the tour, but it was felt it would
have been too stressful to do both, after all, though this had been the
plan.  People who've had cancer know that stress has an effect on the
immune system, which has an effect in cancer.  Sometimes people still
agree to more than they should.

As many have heard by now, her agreement to go ahead with the concerto
with Ashkenazy on February 2 in Japan meant that she would need to fly to
Gulda's funeral (a teacher/mentor of importance to her) and then fly to
Japan on the day of the concert, and she did, playing the concerto that
same night.  I hear it went unusually well.

The circumstances of the flights (death) would have a depressing effect,
not to mention two flights like this are generally tiring no matter what
work you do, and although she attended Maisky's concert the next night she
came down with a flu and fever and had to cancel Monday's and tonight's
recitals and stay in her hotel room.  Unfortunately.

>Hopefully Miss Agerich can make up for that disappointment felt by many by
>arranging for a visit to Sydney at some future time.

I should imagine so.

>This is the first of two major cancellations.  It has just been announced
>that the Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra which was scheduled to present
>three concerts in Sydney in September as part of the Olympics Arts Festival
>has withdrawn because "the orchestra had not been able to secure the level
>of sponsorship needed within the United States to underwrite the Sydney
>tour."

Terrible luck.  And indicative of the level of support for music in the
U.S.  these days.  It's there but it's very tough to get.

For any New Yorkers (or travelers), the NY solo recital which is the
benefit recital for the John Wayne Cancer Institute is still a Go, as the
flu is not expected to last that long:) While there are reasonably priced
tickets, those who want the best ones in the house will find them in the
benefit-reception w/Argerich & recital option, $500 but the $ going to the
Institute.  Details on my page below.  I got confirmation that refunds
would be made if for any reason the recital were cancelled, though that's
not expected for the reasons given in the last note.

Andrys in Berkeley
http://www.andrys.com/argerich.html