Whenever I'm down, I think about this.
Vladimir Horowitz retired. He stopped recording and performing. After 12 years of self imposed absence he announced he would come back and play again.
It's hard to understand now what the hype was like. This master of the art was gone for 12 years, what would his playing be like? Would he be a broken man? Everyone expected him to have grown more cynical or darker or more moody after 12 years away. And he starts the concert with this performance. So unabashedly full of joy. 12 years and his first piece is a joyful and playful love letter from a master to the instrument he loves. It makes this old musician tear up.