Talented Romani pianist performs from his balcony in Czech town to thank medical workers

Robert Ferenc, the talented pianist and Romani community member who became an overnight star on social media in the Czech Republic, has recently been sharing his art with senior citizens in the small town of Vratislavice in the Liberec area. People living in Liberec itself are also able to admire his undeniable talent as, during the state of emergency declared in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, he has been performing from his balcony for his neighbors on the housing estate where he lives.

"I thank the doctors, nurses, firefighters, sales clerks and the people sewing face masks. I thank everybody who is providing aid in this difficult situation," he says in a video of one such performance posted to Facebook.

The musician's original video of thanks has been viewed by more than 13 000 people. The untraditional balcony performances, during which he plays different melodies known to people from film scores, are also being massively shared on social media.

The gifted pianist came in fourth place in the Pianist of the Year competition in 2017 in the Czech Republic. "The earnestness and authenticity of his playing radiates from him. On the one hand he has a strong personal story behind him, and on the other hand he actually has a musician's soul," said Petr Malásek, a juror in that competition and musician himself in a Czech Television reportage about Ferenc.

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