When Jacqueline du Pré was four years old, she heard a pleasing sound on the radio. She later explained, “I liked it so much that I asked my mother to get me the thing that made that sound.” Without hesitation, Iris du Pré bought her daughter a full-size cello, one so large that Jackie had to stand and wrap her arms around the instrument’s body to play it. Most biographies of musical prodigies begin with such precocious anecdotes. These would be forgettable stories were they not, in hindsight, early evidence of artistic genius—if, for example, Jacqueline hadn’t become one of the greatest cellists in the world, . This story is from Kinfolk Issue Twenty-Four Buy Now Related Stories Arts & Culture Issue 19 Going Incognito We all secretly wonder what mischief we’d make if invisible: When our identity is hidden, everything seems possible. Arts & Culture Issue 19 The Best Policy Sometimes we talk to each other without feeling heard. Honesty—a most intimate interaction—can be just as thrilling as its more devious inverse. Arts & Culture Issue 19 A Sense of Suspense With unhinged imaginations and mountains of cliff-hangers, the filmmakers behind the sci-fi podcast Limetown have all the makings of a scary story. Arts & Culture Issue 19 Like Clockwork In this new column about time, we learn how slipping off our watches makes us feel like deadline-damning renegades. Interiors Issue 19 Prankster’s Paradise Is the nine-to-five grind approaching monotony? Arrive at the office early to even the playing field and invoke mirth for your co-workers. Arts & Culture Music Issue 19 On a Grander Scale Malaysian singer-songwriter Yuna now may live on the opposite side of the globe, but she’s determined to evolve while staying true to her roots.
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