'I was so swept away by her': Pianist David Syme recalls meeting Maureen O'Hara as he prepares for living room concerts
Piano virtuoso David Syme, an American who lives near Castletownbere in West Cork. Picture: Anne Marie Cronin Photography
Having a movie star like Maureen O’Hara walk into their living room was a fantasy most men back in the day could only dream about.
However, for international pianist David Syme it is a memory he will hold dear for the rest of his life. Now, as he marks his 20th year performing his critically acclaimed West Cork living room concerts, the musician says he has no regrets about opening up his home to fans from across the world.
Even after stellar performances in venues like Carnegie Hall, the Lincoln Center, and the Kennedy Center, the 76-year-old says nothing compares to the intimacy of playing his own living room in the West Cork home which he shares with his wife, Suzanne.
As the US native prepares for two more concerts on Sunday, November 23 and Sunday, December 14, David said he is once again looking forward to inviting fans in to the up-close and personal concerts.
Indeed, the performances are such intimate affairs (maximum of 80 people) that many fans who visited David’s home over the years to hear him play went on to become close friends — including star Maureen O’Hara who had also made West Cork her home.
"Every dealing we ever had with Maureen was an honour. I remember the first time she came to see a concert. I was so swept away by her. When I told her we were mesmerised by her presence she just brushed off my comment and said 'you don’t get out much, do you?'"
"She was so humble and added 'you met me and we’re here together enjoying each other’s company so get over it,'" said David.
He described the late actress as "beautiful both in spirit and in appearance".
"She used to sing along with me when I played, because she grew up in a musical household and her sister was a trained opera singer.”
He said the star enjoyed the simplicity of his performances.
“She had been surrounded by pageantry most of her life so the idea of being in a simple environment really appealed to her.”
The two became such friends that O' Hara's dog Jessie was left to David by her family after her death in 2015.
“The family worked it out and approached us,” the musician said, referring to him and his partner Suzanne. “They wanted the dog to have a good life."
An alumnus of New York's famous Juilliard School, David Syme has in the past recorded two dozen CDs as soloist with The Royal Philharmonic, the Czech National Symphony, and the Mexico City Symphony. He also served as classic artist in residence in UCC for two years from 2021.
However, the musician's biggest challenge did not come from the stage — but in his battle to overcome the devastating impact of a stroke which he suffered during a performance in Kerry in 2017.
“About two weeks after that, I was sitting around, not exactly feeling sorry for myself but almost. It was a real crushing blow because all I’ve ever done is play piano.
"Then I was invited to come and play the Rachmaninoff first concerto with the Rockford, Illinois Symphony which I had never played before.
"Piano was what I lived for and now I couldn’t do it anymore. I knew I wanted to learn again and figured that the worst thing to ever happen to me had already happened. There was nothing that could have rivalled that.”
Remarkably, his perseverance and sheer determination paid off and he learned to play again.
“I just figured if I can breathe, I can play. It was a little different because neurologically I couldn't. I couldn't even stand up without falling over.
"The piece has 22,000 notes in it and I was relearning 10 notes a day. I would sit, staring at my hand at my right hand because that was the one that was affected. It was only my right side that was immobilised. I would just sit at the piano and prop myself up and learn.
"After about three months of effort I started being able to play again. The concert was a huge success and I have since lectured at hospitals on stroke recovery and rehabilitation. Having to practise something that intricate and that complicated made my rehabilitation possible.”
To book tickets or to find out more about David’s concerts visit www.symepiano.com
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