Bernard Greenhouse Recounts Pursuing Pablo Casals

Casals initially declined to teach Greenhouse, citing his work with refugees from the Franco government, Despite this, Greenhouse decided to travel to France, knocked on Casals’s door and asked for the opportunity to play for him. Casals agreed, asking for a donation to support the exiles, which Greenhouse gladly provided.

After hearing Greenhouse, Casals explained that he believed in the apprentice system and offered to teach Greenhouse only if he committed to staying for at least six months with regular lessons. As Greenhouse approached his own 92nd birthday in this interview, he reflected on Casals’ youthful spirit in these lessons, despite the fact that Casals was in his seventies.