Main content
'The day before I was thinking, what am I going to play?'
Dagmar Turner discusses playing the violin while having a brain tumour removed
Dagmar Turner was diagnosed with a tumour after suffering a seizure during a symphony. She had radiotherapy, but the tumour continued to grow and surgery was required. It was located in the right frontal lobe of her brain, close to an area that controls the fine movement of her left hand - essential for her musical talent. She was woken during the six-hour brain surgery, handed the violin and asked to play scales. This allowed surgeons to identify and therefore avoid the areas of the brain activated while she plays.
(Image: Brain surgery: Credit: Kings College NHS)
Podcast
-
Best of Today
Listen to selected highlights from the Today programme.