Gustav Mahler once said: "my time will come." Jorge Bolet could have lived by the same motto. Luckily for Bolet, recognition came in his lifetime, although late. Bolet was one of the last of the great virtuosos, trained in the 19th century tradition by Leopold Godowsky and Moritz Rosenthal.

In his native Havana, Bolet's talent was recognized quickly. He started his studies at age nine and by age twelve he was sent to the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia where he studied with David Saperton. He also aspired to be a conductor and took lessons from the formidable Fritz Reiner (Bolet actually conducted the Japanese premiere of The Mikado)!

Bolet's career was curious in its beginning. He began giving concerts at a time when the rage was for very 'serious' repertoire, mostly the German Classics. Bolet was perhaps one of the finest and most probing players of the music of Liszt, not much in fashion in the 1940's and 50's.

Only in the 1960's, and in the USA where all things Romantic became the rage, did his star finally shine as it should. At first, it was a bit of a cult following among musicians, but soon his stature was recognized and the last twenty years of his career were crowned with great success and many recordings, mostly for Decca.