Acclaimed Russian pianist Vladimir Ashkenazy left the stage before concluding a solo recital at the National Concert Hall last night. He said later he had been unable to continue because he "felt unwell".
Mr Ashkenazy's walk-off occurred towards the conclusion of a two-hour performance. On completing Ravel's Gaspard de la Nuit, he stood up abruptly, announced he would return shortly and walked into the wings.
Following a brief interval, the National Concert Hall director Ms Judith Woodworth emerged to explain that the Mr Ashkenazy's appearance had been curtailed because of illness. The National Concert Hall marketing manager Ms Jacqui Mahon described his malady as a "a bit of a mystery".
"He seemed in tip-top condition for most of the night. Everything had been going very well. But there was obviously something wrong with him. He was very distressed at having to leave before he had finished," she said.
Mr Ashkenazy is scheduled to perform in Vienna tomorrow.