It means “not quite as gauche as one would expect at that age”. It is a double-edged compliment.

Likewise, old people get “You’re looking very well.”

Good point.

While perusing the playbill of the Ohio Light Opera’s production of “Ruddigore” recently, I was pleased to see that you will be performing in Akron in April. My partner and I will definitely be there. A visit to the concert series website led me to the link to your site and to this blog. I’m delighted to see pictures of you all grown up, though I think you might have included a photo of your memorable fifth-grade turn as Queen Vashti, all in red gauze. It’s also nice to see that you’ve retained your delightful sense of humor, breadth of interests, and — not least — verbosity. And how wonderful to follow your career. May you continue on your successful path, and be happy. In short, it’s a thrill to this now quite middle aged person to see the man that has grown from the little boy I remember so fondly. Is there a chance you’ll have time for coffee or a drink or a meal while you are in Akron?

I hope the rest of your family is well. Now that I think of it, I believe I owe your brother an email from several years ago, when we were having some correspondence and my computer died. Time to rectify that.

Best wishes to you and the whole family for a shanah tovah um’tukah.

Your remarks encouraged me to buy a copy, and having read only about 1/8 of it, it is as good as you say. Very funny in places - but then, how could anyone play Beethoven well without a sense of humor?

My apologies for writing a private thank you in a public space, but thank you nevertheless. I heard you this summer perform a magical Mozart Concerto at Caramoor. This morning, I listened to your Schumann Fantasy on cd - you are such a thoughtful, intelligent musician. It is a deep pleasure to experience the way in which you manage to hear the many layers of the Fantasy, and bring each to life — it gives me the feeling of being more deeply alive, and for that, I am very grateful to you. I was thinking of giving this cd to friends in honor of their marriage a few months ago, and now I will.

I have also appreciated reading your insightful blog comments - not every pianist is as able as you are to be as articulate in words as they are in music. Your blog offers the fortunate rest of us an understanding of your music-making and your active mind.

With best wishes for your future success,

Susan