園田高弘お別れの会

園田高弘お別れの会

2004年12月3日（金）

サントリーホール

献奏：堤剛

弔辞：三浦朱門／湯浅譲二／若杉弘

司会:井上道義

I would like to thank you taking your time from your busy schedule to attend this farewell for late Takahiro Sonoda.

His demise has been most sudden and unexpected that you must all have been surprised.

Six years ago, in November, when he was hospitalized due to a dissociative aneurysm of the aorta, he was able to recover after three months of rest, and return to his concert activities. During the six years since that time, he had vigorously concentrated on his work without little health problem. In actuality, however, he was carrying a time bomb on his back. Despite having been subconsciously aware of the danger of recurrence, he has challenged, one by one, most energetically and courageously what he wanted to accomplish in his life. Naturally, he still had many, many dreams unfulfilled. While he was pursuing these dreams with tireless efforts, he had suddenly to encounter his end. It was a peaceful and painless passing.

For seventy years since he began to play the piano at the age of six, he has been unfailingly persistent in his desire to share with his audience the depth of the spirituality of music, its true countenance and its beauty.He once mentioned that if reincarnation was possible, he would definitely prefer to be born again as a pianist.

There have been such wonderful encounters with so many brilliant senior musicians, as well as farewells, during the past seventy years. Now may be the time when all of them are meeting in yonder land, enjoying an endless session discussing the ideals of music.

To me, personally, Takahiro had been a kind, gentle, and irreplaceable partner in life. For the children, he was an understanding father, and for the grandchildren, a gentile and delightful grandpa. We miss more than anything else hearing the resounding sound of the piano being played at all hours in the house.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude on behalf of my husband for your unwavering support and friendship that you have given him.

December 3, 2004

Haruko Sonoda