Three pianists bring individual styles
By Zhang Qian |
May 23, 2012, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THREE pianists with very different styles are playing in Shanghai over successive nights early next month at the Piano Aux Jacobins festival.
Cleveland International Piano Competition winner Kotaro Fukuma from Japan, Clara Haskil competition winner Adam Laloum from France and French jazz piano star Philippe Leoge will be appearing at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on June 1-3 respectively.
Fukuma insists on creating a concept for each recital, so as to present his artistic sense and originality, and has selected works by Liszt, Ravel, Debussy and Albeniz for his Shanghai concert.
Taking "Spanish music" as its theme, the first half will feature Albeniz's "Evocacion, El Albaicin" from "Iberia," Ravel's "Alborada del Gracioso" and Liszt's "Rhapsodie Espagnole."
"I've had a passion for Spanish music since I fell in love with 'Iberia' by Albeniz about 10 years ago. I hope the audience will enjoy the exotic and sensual ambience, the dynamic range, the dance rhythms and lyricism in my interpretation," says Fukuma.
The second half of his concert has "shimmering water" as its theme.
The inspiration was the Chinese character for ko in Fukuma's first name, which is composed of the characters for "light" and "water."
"Shimmering water is a wonderful natural phenomenon which can convey warm and peaceful feelings to people from any country and any generation," says Fukuma. "I believe that music has a similar effect and wanted to emphasize it with my program."
Choices include Liszt's "Jeux d'eadu a la villa d'Este," Ravel's "Jeux d'eau" and Debussy's "Reflet dans l'eau Poisson d'Or" from "Images."
Debussy has always been among Fukuma's favorite composers. "I haven't found any other artist whose work has the vision that Debussy's music evokes," he says.
Fukuma agrees that Debussy was influenced by the Orientalism fashion popular in the late 19th and early 20th century in Europe, fascinated by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints and other art forms from Asia. But Debussy's music never gives the impression of being an "imitation," says Fukuma.
"It is a true creation of his own fantastic world with some Oriental spirit and taste, while remaining French," says Fukuma. "When I play his pieces influenced by Oriental arts, I try to find a specific sound color and create a specific mood.
"Visual imagination is very important in his music. So I often get inspiration from those paintings that fascinated Debussy," he adds.
Fukuma began playing the piano at the age of five and has won prizes in numerous international competitions. Winning both first prize and the Chopin Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition at just 20 gave his ambitions as a concert pianist a huge boost.
But Fukuma still believes that winning competitions should not be the aim when learning piano.
"The universe of art is endlessly deep and wide, and there is no real goal," he says. "Competitions are good opportunities, so long as they don't kill the spirit of artistry."
Modern French pianist Adam Laloum has chosen Schubert's "Sonata in A Major" for his recital on June 2, so as to pay tribute to the 215th birth anniversary of the Austrian composer.
The work was created a few weeks before Schubert's death, says Laloum, and represents the pinnacle of his style. It has been credited as the most perfect sonata after Beethoven.
This particular work is filled with the power of tragedy, says Laloum.
Laloum will also perform Schumann's "2 Novelettes" and "Sonata en F flat minor."
Completing the trio, jazz master Philippe Leoge started learning to play and compose while very young and will delight local jazz lovers with his impromptu style, say organizers.
The Piano Aux Jacobins is arriving on the Shanghai stage for the 7th time in its 40-year history.
? Kotaro Fukuma Recital
Date: June 1, 7:45pm
? Adam Laloum Recital
Date: June 2, 7:45pm
? Philippe Leoge Recital
Date: June 3, 7:45pm
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 50-300 yuan (US$7.97-47.84)
Tel: 962-388
Cleveland International Piano Competition winner Kotaro Fukuma from Japan, Clara Haskil competition winner Adam Laloum from France and French jazz piano star Philippe Leoge will be appearing at the Shanghai Oriental Art Center on June 1-3 respectively.
Fukuma insists on creating a concept for each recital, so as to present his artistic sense and originality, and has selected works by Liszt, Ravel, Debussy and Albeniz for his Shanghai concert.
Taking "Spanish music" as its theme, the first half will feature Albeniz's "Evocacion, El Albaicin" from "Iberia," Ravel's "Alborada del Gracioso" and Liszt's "Rhapsodie Espagnole."
"I've had a passion for Spanish music since I fell in love with 'Iberia' by Albeniz about 10 years ago. I hope the audience will enjoy the exotic and sensual ambience, the dynamic range, the dance rhythms and lyricism in my interpretation," says Fukuma.
The second half of his concert has "shimmering water" as its theme.
The inspiration was the Chinese character for ko in Fukuma's first name, which is composed of the characters for "light" and "water."
"Shimmering water is a wonderful natural phenomenon which can convey warm and peaceful feelings to people from any country and any generation," says Fukuma. "I believe that music has a similar effect and wanted to emphasize it with my program."
Choices include Liszt's "Jeux d'eadu a la villa d'Este," Ravel's "Jeux d'eau" and Debussy's "Reflet dans l'eau Poisson d'Or" from "Images."
Debussy has always been among Fukuma's favorite composers. "I haven't found any other artist whose work has the vision that Debussy's music evokes," he says.
Fukuma agrees that Debussy was influenced by the Orientalism fashion popular in the late 19th and early 20th century in Europe, fascinated by Japanese ukiyo-e woodblock prints and other art forms from Asia. But Debussy's music never gives the impression of being an "imitation," says Fukuma.
"It is a true creation of his own fantastic world with some Oriental spirit and taste, while remaining French," says Fukuma. "When I play his pieces influenced by Oriental arts, I try to find a specific sound color and create a specific mood.
"Visual imagination is very important in his music. So I often get inspiration from those paintings that fascinated Debussy," he adds.
Fukuma began playing the piano at the age of five and has won prizes in numerous international competitions. Winning both first prize and the Chopin Prize at the Cleveland International Piano Competition at just 20 gave his ambitions as a concert pianist a huge boost.
But Fukuma still believes that winning competitions should not be the aim when learning piano.
"The universe of art is endlessly deep and wide, and there is no real goal," he says. "Competitions are good opportunities, so long as they don't kill the spirit of artistry."
Modern French pianist Adam Laloum has chosen Schubert's "Sonata in A Major" for his recital on June 2, so as to pay tribute to the 215th birth anniversary of the Austrian composer.
The work was created a few weeks before Schubert's death, says Laloum, and represents the pinnacle of his style. It has been credited as the most perfect sonata after Beethoven.
This particular work is filled with the power of tragedy, says Laloum.
Laloum will also perform Schumann's "2 Novelettes" and "Sonata en F flat minor."
Completing the trio, jazz master Philippe Leoge started learning to play and compose while very young and will delight local jazz lovers with his impromptu style, say organizers.
The Piano Aux Jacobins is arriving on the Shanghai stage for the 7th time in its 40-year history.
? Kotaro Fukuma Recital
Date: June 1, 7:45pm
? Adam Laloum Recital
Date: June 2, 7:45pm
? Philippe Leoge Recital
Date: June 3, 7:45pm
Address: 425 Dingxiang Rd, Pudong
Tickets: 50-300 yuan (US$7.97-47.84)
Tel: 962-388
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