/ 7 March 2006

Pianist Lily Dumont Mindus dies at 94

Concert pianist Lily Dumont Mindus, who performed around the world after fleeing Nazi Germany, has died. She was 94. Mindus -- who died at her home on Monday -- performed as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra by the time she was 15.

Concert pianist Lily Dumont Mindus, who performed around the world after fleeing Nazi Germany, has died. She was 94.

Mindus — who died at her home on Monday — performed as a soloist with the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra by the time she was 15, but left the country with her fiancé as the Nazi regime began imposing harsh restrictions on Jewish performers. Her fiancé, Dr Walter V Mindus, became a physician and surgeon on the staff of St Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford. He died in 1985.

Performing as Lily Dumont, she continued to tour Europe, Latin America and the United States in the 1950s and 1960s, her family said. She also recorded for His Master’s Voice, Polydor and Concert Society labels.

Survivors include her sons, Dr Lester Mindus of Los Angeles, and Paul Mindus of London, as well as two grandchildren. — Sapa-AP