Erik Wittner (source: Korzár)
Many first noticed university student Erik Wittner when a video surfaced online showing him playing the piano at Chata pod Rysmi, the highest mountain hut in the High Tatras.
One of his videos has nearly 700,000 views.
The Slovak, who also has a passion for photography, performs at the hut on the last day of October, just before the winter closure of the hiking trails. This tradition began in 2021, reports Korzár.
Detailed travel guide to the Tatras introduces you to the whole region around the Tatra mountains, including attractions on the Polish side.
"It's an experience for people," laughs the amateur pianist.
How it started
When Wittner, 23, hiked the trail to Zbojnícka chata, another popular hut in the Tatras, some time ago and played the piano there, he learned that there is also a piano at Chata pod Rysmi. This is where the highest piano in Slovakia is located, at an altitude of 2,250 metres above sea level.
According to the pianist, it has always been his dream to play such a piano.
On the morning of the last day of October three years ago, Wittner spontaneously decided to hike to Chata pod Rysmi, just before the trails closed.
"Such ideas are the best. What a person plans long in advance may not turn out so well," Wittner told Korzár.
At that time, he went to Chata pod Rysmi alone and also climbed Rysy peak. Later, when he started playing the piano at the hut, it was very well received.
"After a while, the hut manager, Viktor Beránek, came to me. He tapped me on the shoulder and said: 'Boy, listen, we'll put the piano outside for you, and you'll play us one more concert here,'" said Wittner, adding that six men took the piano outside and he played a one-hour concert beneath the peak.
People also heard the iconic song from the Czechoslovak film "The Copper Tower", a 1970 cult classic set in the High Tatras that tells the story of friendship among a group of climbers.
Perinbaba
A year after his first concert, Wittner returned to the hut just before the end of the summer season. He was better prepared this time; he brought his camera and slept in the hut. When considering what to play, the first things that came to mind were mountains and snow.
"I associate both with Perinbaba, which I'd seen about three or four times, and decided to play it there," he explained. "Perinbaba" (The Feather Fairy) is a well-known Slovak Christmas fairy tale.
Last year, he had to perform inside the hut due to the weather.
"Even playing inside had a wonderful atmosphere. In the evening, the hut is illuminated only by oil lamps," he said.
This year, the pianist intends to play outside the hut at the end of October as well.
In addition to Zbojnícka chata and Chata pod Rysmi, the piano is also located at Chata pri Popradskom plese.
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