DÉJÀ VU

History just keeps on repeating itself…

When Eric Abramovitz was offered a scholarship to study with clarinet professor Yehuda Gilad at LA’S Colburn School, it should have been the greatest moment of his life. His girlfriend, however, had other ideas. Intercepting the college’s email of acceptance to Abramovitz, Jennifer Jooyeon Lee responded on his behalf with thanks, but no thanks, and followed up with a fake email of rejection to her beloved. Only after the couple had split did Abramovitz discover Lee’s deception, winning $375,000 in damages for the disruption to his career. But he’s not the first musician to find unexpected barriers in his way…

Many bosses get the hump when a star employee announces an intention to up sticks, but few take their grudge as far as the Duke of Saxe-weimar, who in 1717 reacted to JS Bach’s planned move by locking him up. Only after a month in the clink was Bach able to head to a new post in Cöthen. Handel didn’t have it easy either – banned from owning an instrument by his father, the young George resorted to practising his spinet in secret in the attic. Female musicians have also found their paths to fulfilment blocked by those close to them. Such as Alma Mahler. ‘The role of the composer is mine,’ wrote hubby Gustav about her own ambitions. ‘Yours is that of the loving partner.’ She was soon his ex-partner. More sinisterly, there’s the case of Lang Lang. On realising the pianist would not make the grade at the Beijing Conservatory, his outraged father told him to take his own life. Mercifully, the young man ignored him.