"In October 1943 I was invited by the Romanian Legation to a recital by a young Romanian pianist. I don’t really know why I accepted the invitation – I did, though, but feeling, as is quite normal in such cases, sceptical. After the audience had found their seats, the young pianist put his hands on the keyboard and began playing a transcription of a Bach chorale. I instantly felt, right from the very first notes, that something unusual was happening, that I had never heard a piano played like this. The pianist’s personality also appealed to me, and so our friendship was born that moment - one of the most precious friendships I have experienced.”