Riccardo Baldini, 29, has always had the piano available to him. He recalls learning to read notes before letters when he was five years old, when he first began playing.
“I like to say that my first language is music.
He developed a passion for classical music throughout the years. He has invested many hours in learning the components. In just a few days, Baldini will be on an Edmonton stage for the first time in years, but it’s taken a lot to get to this point.
“Music has always been a part of my life. With that, I was raised. I never stopped exercising… It’s just a way for me to feel closer to these great historical figures.
He never thought something so important to his soul could be gone, but when he woke up one morning in 2019, his entire world had changed.
It was unexpected, according to Baldini.
The chest down is paralysed in Baldini. Since 2019, he has ridden in a wheelchair. Everything was difficult for him, even his passion.
He had trouble playing the piano’s keys and couldn’t use the pedals.
“When I was first hurt, I was completely out of it… I had to concentrate on keeping my sanity. After some time, I simply began to consider what I might do to simply make the most of what I had.
As Baldini said, music is his first language and he wasn’t ready to be silenced. He immediately made an attempt to resume playing the piano.
Several weeks after the injury, when I returned to play, “you just know what it is now, and it’s so fresh from what it was before,” Baldini said. “I was really upset.”
“This is ridiculous, I lost so much. It fails, and you experience pain. My core didn’t function at all, therefore I was only able to play for the first five minutes. It was bad that I was constantly exhausted.
“I was also very sad because the pedal was not an option anymore.
I searched the internet for an answer. One product is from Germany, but I gave it a try and didn’t particularly like it. Additionally, because it was specifically designed for the piano, you can’t really move it.
Baldini then made the decision that he needed to find a means to play and, along with a friend, created a pedal pusher machine using his mouth.
It’s wonderful, it moves, and it works.
“I already had commercialization in mind since it’s fantastic… I want to see youngsters playing with it who have disabilities.
It will be used by Baldini in front of a live audience. His first performance following his injury will be that one.
It’s incredible. Baldini stated, “I’m nervous and I truly can’t wait to play.
Emilio De Marcato, the musical director of the Alberta Symphony, will be on stage with Baldini. The pair will each have a solo but will also play together.
The pedals will be pushed by De Marcato. The performance’s name is “1-Piano 4-hands.”
De Mercato expressed his admiration for Baldini’s willingness to pick up the piano once more.
“I was at his side as he struggled through this trying period of his life, and it’s incredible to see a brilliant man with such courage and fortitude. It’s incredibly thrilling to watch this development, according to De Marcato.
“Once we go on stage, everything will be concentrated on giving a wonderful performance. Backstage, there will still be time for embraces and tears.
This will undoubtedly be a special moment, and I hope there will be many more to follow.
While Baldini may serve as inspiration for others, he will be motivated by the chance to once more interact with others through music.
“Music fosters this lovely exchange of feeling and something, and the audience as a whole feels that. When that moment happens… that is why I like to perform. ”.
Even with a spinal cord damage, an Edmonton pianist finds a way to perform
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