Back

Mischa Maisky is back on stage

Artists

After his first performance in Switzerland, he recounts his strenuous recovery

In June 2024, after a tour of Asia that lasted several weeks, Mischa Maisky suffered a severe infection of the spinal cord that almost completely paralyzed him. Following a successful operation, he had to undergo a long and difficult rehabilitation. It took an incredible will and tireless effort on the part of Mischa Maisky to enable him to now devote himself once again to his instrument.
On 16 January, he performed again for the first time, together with Martha Argerich and Janine Jansen, at the KKL in Lucerne.

WFIMC: Many people never ever recover after being paralized. How did you achieve the un-achievable?

Mischa Maisky: Three, four months ago, it was only depressing. I had a really strong infection. I received some of the strongest antibiotics possible. I could hardly move my arms and lost 10 kg of muscles by lying down all the time.

Then they moved me out of intensive care, and I began the long, long recovery. At first I could not even hold up my phone, but eventually I managed. Then followed a small water bottle, the a 1-kg weight, then two, and now its three.

It feels quite unreal- everyone said it is amazing that I made such a progress in this short amount of time. Three months is basically nothing- usually people remain two years or more in rehabilitation.

Janine Jansen, Mischa Maisky and Martha Argerich at the KKL Lucerne, 16 January 2025 ©WFIMC

When did you manage to get up for the first time?

At first it seemed impossible. But then they tried to connect me to some special kind of board and just gradually, gradually I began to move my upper body. I had to check my blood pressure all the time. Eventually, I could sit up in my bed, and sit in an electric wheelchair. And later, stand up and make my first steps. Martha took a video at that time… With the walker, I was finally able to move around. And on my son Maxim´s 20th birthday, my children instisted that I had to join them- on the wheelchair- to visit a Formula One race… 

Martha Argerich pushed you a lot to play tonight´s performance.

Martha came to visit me at the hospital three times… and yes, she was also pushing me to play tonight. You see, I had to cancel many performances, and tonight was no different. It feels like my hands have shrunk…. When I began playing again, my kids listened to me and told me what was okay and what was not. They asked me to do all kinds of music here in Lucerne, but I knew I couldn´t play, so I said I´m sorry. Then, Martha and Numa Bischof came up with the idea of a Haydn Trio. And I thought- okay, maybe I can. G Major, I can still manage. So that´s how the performance happened….

In his speech on stage, Lucerne Symphony´s CEO Numa Bischof said it was a miracle you could perform, but it was also a miracle that Martha was able to come…

Martha was attending a competition in Arizona and suffered from a really bad flu. Basically, she could not travel for the longest time, she had 40 fever and had to stay in bed. She collapsed and could not get up- it was horrible. But finally she managed, and flew home, where she arrived yesterday. Her suitcase got lost (the airtag says it´s in Guadalajara, Mexico), she doesn´t have her concert clothes, but she still managed to come here and play tonight. She said “I have to do this for you!”

At 83, that is quite amazing.

It is, absolutely. I always felt she is extraterrestrial, like from another planet, but maybe she is human after all. She really should take care of herself…. It´s like the joke about Eubie Blake, the jazz pianist, who smoked and drank everything possible, all his life. When he turned 100, he was asked in an interview: “How does it feel to be 100 years old?” and he said: “hey, man, if I would have known that I’ll live so long, I would have taken better care of myself!”

©WFIMC 2025/FR