For eight decades, Wunderkinder have come and gone since Arthur Ru binstein was recognized as a prodigy by the eminent violinist Joseph Joachim. All of them, no doubt, have had experience as tender as Rubinstein's:
"Professor Joachim picked me up from the floor, kissed me, and gave me a big piece of chocolate." For the great majority, however, the Japanese proverb has applied all too well: "The child prodigy at ten has talent at 15 and is mediocre at 20." Given parental idiosyncrasies, the denial of childish games, the pressures of concert life,...
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