pianist spent three years consulting
with doctors about a debilitating
problem with his thumb, which pre-
vented him from playing the piano
over that time. A painful bone spur •
ultimately was found and taken care
of surgically, and he was able to return
to playing in 1995.
"I lived in music more than ever in
that I studied every day away from the
piano," Perahia explains about dealing
with his painful condition. "I read
scores, and I analyzed them. There's a
great theorist [whose work] I read a
lot. All that and the help of my family
were very important."
Married to Ninette Shohet, of
Iraqi-Jewish heritage, Perahia has two
sons, Benjamin and Raphael. He
decided to make his home in England
in the 1980s, when New York had a
very high crime rate.
"My wife studied classical guitar so
she can understand a lot about
music," the instrumentalist says. "My
younger son is 12, and he can't stand
classical music. The strange thing is
that the 16-year-old turned around
and now loves classical music at no
bidding from me. I think it had to do
with the friends he met at school and
the influences` apart from me."
Accepting conducting engagements
fits in with the pianist's career goals.
"Conducting brings me in contact
with a lot of musicians, and I love
that," he says. "It also brings me a
repertoire I can't play on the piano,
things like symphonies and suites of
Bach, Mozart and Haydn. It's all great
fun that I can't do alone."
Perahia's Ann Arbor program will
include participation in the UMS's
Master of Arts Interview Series.
"I'd like to speak about music and
the shaping forces in music," he says.
"There is logic in music, and I [will]
try to show how the logic is exhibited.
In the case of the Variations, one is a
natural outgrowth of the other. Even
the canon reflects the theme. Music is
the most interesting thing that I can
think about or talk about. I basically
spend the whole day at the piano." ❑

TEMPLE BETH EL
presents
OY VEY CABARET AND A LITTLE BROAD-VEY
SATURDAY, MARCH 4 7:3o PM
TEMPLE BETH EL

A Dinner Show featuring

Cantor Lori Corrsin
Temple Israel

Wendy Davidow

Dan Singer

Cantor Stephen Dubov
Temple Beth El

$40 per person
Reservation Deadine: Fehruaq

Make checks payable and mail to:
Temple Beth El, 7400 Telegraph Road, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48301,
Attn: Cabaret
For information, call 865-0616 press 2

Your Host:

HASSAN BAZZI

former maitre'd of The Original Sheik In Downtown Detroit

Invites You To Enjoy Our Famous

Baby Lamb Shish Kabob & Lamb Chops
Shish Kafta & Shish Tawook

• Deboned Chicken • Potato Chop • Chicken Cream Chop
• White Fish (American & Chaldean-Style)

LUNCH
—
-

SPECIAL

SANDWICH WITH
SOUP OR SALAD
ANYDAY

50%OFF

wils ma am no um am ma am am am am am

Call Us For All
Your Catering Needs

and

Middle-Eastem Dining

Murray Perahia performs 8
p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 16, at
Ann Arbor's Hill Auditorium,
825 North University Avenue.
$16-$55. He participates in the
Master of Arts Interview Series
at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 15, at
the School of Music Recital
Hall. (734) 764-2538.

22

Businessperson's
Luncheons

29222 Orchard Lake Road, S. of 13 Mile
Farmington Hills

American & Middle-Eastern
Cuisine

(248) 855-1122

Call for Menu & Details

Fax (248) 865-6001
www.food.com/desertsands

Fresh Juice Bar and
Cocktails & Wines

LUNCH OR DINNER

DINE IN ONLY
BUY ONE LUNCH OR DINNER
GET THE SECOND LUNCH OR
DINNER AT 1/2 PRICE!

7 DAYS A WEEK!

-

with coupon

F14

2/H
2000

75

