大象传媒

Kate Kennedy meets musicians who, like her, had to stop playing after injury and reshape their lives. What does being forced to fall silent mean for a musician's relationship with their instrument?

"My name is Julian Lloyd Webber and I am an ex-cellist". The internationally renowned performer, Julian Lloyd Webber talks for the first time in detail to Kate about the moment he realised his 40-year career could be over mid-recital: "Suddenly I lost power in my right arm - I thought I was going to drop the bow. I had never experienced anything like it - I didn't know what was wrong or what to do. I was genuinely frightened". Julian shares the sense of bereavement he felt after his prestigious career of four decades ended due to a herniated disc in his neck.

Over the next few weeks, Julian tried to pretend everything was normal. His manager was calling him with engagements he had always wanted to undertake, such as a performance of Shostakovich's First Cello Concerto in Moscow. But the wear and tear of Julian's performing career on his body was too much - he learned that the herniated disc was pressing on a nerve which was causing a loss of power in his arm. Doctors told him that he could have an operation, but with little guarantee of success, and with high risks attached. He had a young family at the time, so chose to sacrifice the cello.

He has never played since. Julian and Jiaxin, his wife and fellow cellist, reflect on the last fateful concert they played together and how they've found positives in silence.

Presenter: Kate Kennedy
Producer: Erika Wright
Production Coordinator: Elisabeth Tuohy
Executive Producer: Rami Tzabar
Healing Musicians is a TellTale Industries production for 大象传媒 Radio 3