Cancer patient's missed opportunity ends on happy note with private concert

WHEN CANCER patient Hanitra (Hani) Plunkett was unable to attend a recent concert of violinist Vladimir Jablokov, little did she expect the music to come to her.

Yesterday the young Slovakian violinist was a surprise visitor to her room and the strains of The Godfather theme echoed down the corridor of the cancer ward at Dublin’s Mater Private hospital in Dublin.

“I’m over the moon,” Ms Plunkett said with a large smile after her surprise concert yesterday.

Ms Plunkett has been receiving cancer treatment for the past five years. She is in her 50s and is originally from Madagascar but has lived in Dublin for many years.

She is married to an Irishman and has two grown-up children. “This is something I didn’t expect – a concert for me alone,” she said.

Her friend Kathyann Purcell approached Jablokov at the end of his performance at the National Concert Hall last month and asked him to play. “She is the best friend in the world,” Ms Plunkett said yesterday.

The pair had been to see the violinist play before but Ms Plunkett has not been able to attend many concerts lately. Her treatment usually takes place during the day a few times a week, but a recent complication means she is an inpatient at the hospital.

“I was more than happy [to do it], it brings me pleasure,” said Mr” said Jablokov, who had never done anything like this previously. “She was really surprised – but who would expect to get a violin player she likes ?

“I like to make people happy – that’s why I play music. People often talk about money and recession but they should enjoy what they do and try to make people happy,” he said.

Jablokov had a discerning audience yesterday as Ms Plunkett studied violin for five years in Madagascar before moving to Europe. In Madagascar Ms Plunkett used the solfège system (doh-ray-me) but in Europe notes were used.

“This made it difficult to read music,” she said yesterday, explaining why she stopped playing.

Jablokov's music usually involves a rework of classics and rock-pop songs. Yesterday he played music from Dr Zhivago, Fiddler on the Roof, The Godfatherand – at the request of the patient – Vivaldi's Four Seasons.

He had been afraid to “disturb other patients” but those passing by and in nearby rooms were clearly delighted by the distraction.