Notable web postings - April 2017
Continued from Notable web postings - March 2017
Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival
♪ Best wishes to Nobu on the launch of his 2017 Ultimate Concerto Concerts with violinist Mone Hattori, which starts on the 25th in 仙台 Sendai!
Photos, news and comments can be found => 2017 Ultimate Concerto Tour News, Photos & Comments
Nobu at Wigmore Hall in 2016 . Image source: The Nobuyuki Tsujii Official Site
♪ April 28 Thank you, WQXR (classic music radio station in New York City)!
We thank @wqxr for regularly playing tracks of music by Nobu, including his Mozart, rarely heard in the U.S.!
https://www.wqxr.org/music/musicians/nobuyuki-tsujii/
Last played Friday, April 28 2017 at 06:58 AM
Etude in C Minor, Op. 10/12, "Revolutionary"
Nobuyuki Tsujii , piano
Last played Wednesday, April 05 2017 at 09:02 AM
Piano Sonata No. 11 in A Major, K. 331: Rondo alla Turca
Nobuyuki Tsujii , piano
...
♪ April 28 "The goodness of Nobuyuki Tsujii is even better listening while drunk"
I am not sure I get this tweet right, but I like the sentiment behind it ^_^
https://twitter.com/1233288/status/857982538547056640
辻井伸行の良さは、酔っぱらって聴く方が良い。 大きな視点で見る曲の展開ではなく「場面」のダイナミクスと表現力で見たらやっぱり世界サイツヨですよ、この方は。
The goodness of Nobuyuki Tsujii is even better listening while drunk. For the dynamics and expressive power of the "scene", not the expansion of the piece seen from a big perspective, it is the world sightseeing, this one is.
♪ April 26 懐かしい写真 A Nostalgic and precious Photo
Yura shared on Twitter a precious photo originally posted by one of Nobu's (former) professors, 干野宜大 Takahiro Hoshino
Professor Hoshino wrote:
https://twitter.com/TAKAHIRO0428/status/857127131255582722
懐かしい写真が出てきた。
辻井君のピアノコンチェルトのレッスンした後にエーベックスのスタッフの方たちと中華。
A nostalgic photo. Mr. Tsujii 's piano concerto lesson. Behind us: Avex staff and a Chinese.
This is a rare photo. Nobu (dressed quite fashionably in black, with a jaunty scarf draped around his neck) is in the center of the photo, with mother Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii (in a stylish long coat) on left and Professor Hoshino on right. Behind them is Mr. Nick Asano (far left) and Mr. Hiroyuki Nakashima (far right). Nobu's father is in front of everyone. Nobu, his parents and the professor are dressed in warm clothing -- so I suspect the photo was taken in winter. I remember noticing Professor Takahiro Hoshino being listed on Nobu's biography as one of his piano teachers at about the time when Nobu performed Prokofiev's Piano Concerto No. 3 for the first time. I have no proof, but I speculate that Nobu learned to play Prokofiev 3 AND Rachmaninov 3 under Professor Hoshino, who lists both works among his repertoire => https://sites.google.com/site/nobufans/original-articles/nobuyuki-tsujii-update---june-5-2012
♪ April 26 A new interview from Australia ...
From Australia came a new interview of Nobuyuki Tsujii in advance of his performance with Sydney Symphony Orchestra & recital, in May.
April 26 2017 - 9:13AM
Blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii at the Opera House with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra
by Elissa Blake
"If the Japanese concert pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii gets to have his time on earth again, he would like to be a chef, he says. 'A French chef.' "
"Today he is speaking from a small studio on the outskirts of Tokyo, where he is preparing for a concert tour that takes him to Berlin to play under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy before he flies directly to Sydney to play two concerts of Chopin, Berlioz and Dvorak with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra and a solo concert of J.S. Bach, Mozart and Beethoven."
" 'I don't find memorising music difficult. Most of it stays in my mind so that even after 10 years I only need to spend an hour or so remembering it and it all comes back to me. I just feel it naturally in my body and in my mind.'"
"While he has yet to rise to the level of celebrity of China's Lang Lang, few doubt he can."
The piece has been posted online by the Sydney Morning Herald, Brisbane Times and other Australia sites.
It has some new information that I was unaware of before, such as "(he) prefers to escape the city for serious practice."
But, honestly, why do people in Australia keep using these ancient photos of Nobu??
Please read the whole interview here => http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/music/blind-pianist-nobuyuki-tsujii-at-the-opera-house-with-the-sydney-symphony-orchestra-20170425-gvs02c.html
♪ April 26/7 "Morning in Cortona"
It's interesting that Nobu's own composition "Morning in Cortona" has recently gotten some air time in Hong Kong (my native land, eons ago), on a radio program called "Jazz and more ..."
http://www.rthk.hk/radio/radio4/programme/jazz_and_more/episode/431498
Incidentally, the YouTube video of Nobu's first performance of this piece (in Texas, 2010, as an encore) has now garnered well over a million views.
♪ April 26 "♪ April 2桜を見る会 Cherry Blossom Viewing Party" photos posted on blog of Mr.s Itsuko Tsujii ♪ April 26 "
April 26 "http://ameblo.jp/tsujii-itsuko/entry-12268845153.html
新宿御苑での「桜を見る会」にいってきました
We went to the " cherry blossom viewing party " at Shinjuku National Garden
晴天に恵まれて、素敵な時間を過ごすことができました
Blessed with fine weather, we were able to have a wonderful time ....
PHOTO above: This is one of three photos posted on the blog of Mr.s Itsuko Tsujii -- it shows Nobu in his purple velvet jacket, pinned with a ID ribbon, over white shirt and black trousers; and Mrs. Tsujii in a formal kimono with cherry blossom motif, her hair and makeup in traditional Japanese fashion. They are standing on a path strewn with petals from the cherry blossoms fell from trees overhanging above.
♪ Japan's "Golden Week" ahead
I see now why for so long I mistakenly thought Nobu's 2017 Ultimate Concerto Concerts starts on the 29th (this coming Saturday). It turns out that day is the beginning of this year's "Golden Week" in Japan, a very big deal there where people travel in droves to see cherry blossoms and visit shrines. We wish Nobu and our friends in Japan a happy "Golden Week"!
♪ April 22
Looks like the marketing genius of Avex Classics has come up with a new concert series, "The Super Soloists", for three of their young soloists to perform in Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra. Yes, Nobu is one of the three. He will perform Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on Paganini's Theme AND Grieg's Piano Concerto, on January 21 in Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor 角田鋼亮 Tadashi Kakuda.
♪ April 21 ローソンチケットホームページは発売開始から僅か１４分で終了
Tickets for Nobu's two Premium Recitals at Tokyo's Kioi Hall (7/27, 7/28) came on sale at 10 this morning in Japan. A Twitter wrote that on the Lawson site they were sold out in 14 minutes. They are also sold out on PIA as of noon when I checked.
♪ April 20 Nobu nowhere on the 2017 BBC Proms Program
The 2017 BBC Proms program is now online => https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/rcrbj5/by/date/2017
I strained my eyes in vain looking for Nobu's name, but, alas, once again no Nobu at this year's BBC Proms
Too bad -- the opening concert Prom1 features Beethoven's third piano concerto, which Nobu performed so brilliant in Sydney last October. And Vladimir Jurowski and the London Phil perform on September 6 (Prom 71), but with violinist Alina Ibragimova as soloist. Sigh.
♪ April 20 Drooling at the thought of my "Spargel" treat
On quiet days like this, I turn to sites like this one by Berlin's contrabass player 高橋徹 Toru Takahashi.
It has been a while since Takahashi-san made posts about Nobu (like this memorable one), but his blog continues to be a treasure trove of portraits of life in Germany (and Japan).
His latest post is a tribute to the joy of "spargel" (big thick white asparagus) in Germany this time of the year. I had the pleasure of partaking some of this delicacy on a previous trip to Germany, and I am (drooling) looking forward to the delight again, soon.
In addition to being a professional musician and great photographer, Takahashi-san is apparently a superb cook -- Here, I am especially impressed that he does not commit the common crime of ruining the delicate taste of fresh spargel by drowning it in the abominable Hollandaise sauce -- in my humble opinion. ^_^
Image of photo presented on blog of Berlin's contrabass player Toru Takahashi
♪ April 20 Cherry Blossom around the World -- in pictures
Japan's love of cherry blossom has spread to every corner of the world, it seems.
Some great photos can be found on this page => https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2017/apr/18/cherry-blossom-around-the-world-in-pictures
But I was alarmed to see this photo of "Snow covers cherry blossom in Munich, Germany" -- Nobu (and Yours Truly) will be there in Berlin in a few weeks.
Hopefully the weather will have warmed up for us!
♪ April 18 2017 Premium Recitals ticket sales
It is not unexpected, but it's always good to see the "sold out" label posted with Nobu's premium recital (July 21) in Akita. If you check the venue's page, you will see that this is the only sold out event
On the other hand, I was surprised that there are still limited tickets available on PIA for Osaka (7/7) and Aichi (7/17) even though they are declared 完売sold out on Avex's page
♪ April 17 Nobuyuki Tsujii × Vladimir Jurowski × LPO -- 2017 on magazine cover
【CLASSICAL】＜入荷＞ #ぶらあぼ 5月号入荷しています！表紙はウラディミール・ユロフスキと辻井伸行、巻頭インタビューは諏訪内晶子。
Burabao May issue has arrived! Cover is Vladimir Jurowski and Nobuyuki Tsujii ..."
ぶらあぼ "Burabao" is a classical-music information magazine produced by Japan's eBravo. Nobu and Mr. Jurowski perform with the London Philharmonic Orchestra in Japan this October.
♪ April 18
It is raining in Tokyo. Let's hope Nobu is making good progress on practicing new works.
Meanwhile, I rather like this comment from a Twitter:
演奏者によって癖があったりするんだけど、その中でも例外的なのが辻井伸行で、彼の演奏はどんなに集中しても手が見えない。 先入観も多く入っているんだろうけど、他の演奏家とは全く別で、例えるなら指が88本あるイメージが近いかなぁ。
"There are habits depending on the performer, but among them Nobuyuki Tsujii is exceptional. He cannot see in his performance but anyhow stay concentrated. I suppose there are a lot of preconceptions, but his performance is totally different from other performers'. If you think about it, the image of a performer with 88 fingers would be close. "
♪April 16 Cherry-Blossom Party remembered
Blogger 水沢アリー Arie Mizusawa was at the 桜の会 Cherry Blossom Party in Tokyo over the weekend, hosted by Prime Minister Abe. She posted many photos of herself taken with celebrities at the event, including this one with Nobu and his mother Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii.
http://lineblog.me/mizusawaarie/archives/67133026.html
2017/4/16 22:10
桜の会。Cherry Blossom Party.
大ファンの辻井伸行さん達と
"Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii with a big fan)
なかなか会えない人達に会えて嬉しかったな
皆さんとっても綺麗でしたよ
桜もとても綺麗に咲いていて、雨も降らず素敵な桜の会でした〜🌸
I was pleased to meet some people whom cannot otherwise be met easily. Everyone was very beautiful. Cherry blossoms were also blooming very beautifully; it did not rain; it was a wonderful cherry blossom party.
♪ April 15 Cherry-viewing Party
Someone just posted a photo on twitter, apparently freshly taken at the Shinjuku Park in Tokyo of an annual cherry-viewing ceremony hosted by Japan's Prime Minister Abe and wife .
https://twitter.com/momoclozamurai/status/853064087298744320
本日4/15(土)、東京･新宿御苑で開催されている安倍首相主催『桜を見る会』に、ももクロも出席
"Cherry Viewing Party" hosted by Prime Minister Abe held today at Shinjuku Gyoen in Tokyo on Saturday, April 15
A sharp eyed twitter spotted Nobu at the very far left edge of the photo. The photo shows a line of people standing in front of cherry trees in full bloom, with the prime minister and his wife in the center. The women are in colorful costumes and the men are in suits. Everyone, including Nobu, has a hand stretched out in a pointing gesture known as the "Z".
Yup, Nobu is back in Japan but apparently not yet hard at work at the piano!
In this screen grab from a TV broadcast, Nobu and mother Itsuko is seen on the far left in second row.
And Yura posted this screen grab in which Nobu can be seen clearly on the far left
Shinobu spotted this photo posted by Mainichi News (Everyday News) that clearly shows Nobu and Mrs. Tsujii among the celebrities that participated in the annual "Cherry-viewing party" hosted by Japan's Prime Minister Abe -- the article says 6,500 people showed up for the event.
♪ April 15 Nobu back in Tokyo
Looks like Nobu and mother Itsuko are back in Tokyo.
In her latest blog post, Mrs. Tsujii wrote:
帰国したら桜満開でした
今年は桜満開の時期がゆっくり長く続いてくれて嬉しい限りです
目黒川が満開の桜でした♪
Cherry blossoms were in full bloom after returning to Japan
This year it is my pleasure that the period of cherry blossom bloom has lasted slowly and long
The cherry trees along Meguro River is in full bloom ♪
So, it's back to work for Nobu. He does have a full plate awaiting: Liszt's transcendental etudes for his Premium Recitals in July ; Franck's violin concerto with Fumiaki Miura in August ...♪ April 14 A pool for Nobu's daily swim, in Majorca
More from Majorca: Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii with Nobuyuki Tsujii --
http://ameblo.jp/tsujii-itsuko/entry-12265009110.html
They are staying at a friend's house complete with a swimming pool for Nobu, who loves to swim. The pool has ocean view.
Also shown on this latest blog post are black paella (that Nobu must also have enjoyed) and photo of Mrs. Tsujii on a street with an odd-shaped tree and a "cute doggie".
"素敵な景色、素敵な人、素敵な出会いがたくさんあって、心が癒されました Lovely scenery, nice people, lots of nice encounters, the mind has been healed."
♪ April 12 Photos from Majorca holiday
Another sign that Nobu may have returned to Japan? Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii has posted a report of their Majorca holiday on her blog, with photos of them and some mouth-watering food that they enjoyed.
PHOTO above: They dined at a restaurant named La Scala, clearly music-themed. In the photo, Nobu is wearing his black leather jacket over white polo shirt with some kind of logo (of a sports team?) and light-colored slacks; mother Itsuko is wearing black jacket over white sweat shirt and white slacks -- she is holding a large teal colored foldable tote bag perfect for travelers.
Photo above taken in front of an ancient olive tree -- Nobu is wearing his black leather jacket over an army-fatigue patterned T-shirt, and blue jeans; mother Itsuko sports a long coat and boots, carrying many shopping bags.
In a subsequent post, Mrs. Tsujii describes a cruise on a yacht captained by "Charles", with photos.
Majorca where Chopin, revered by Nobuyuki , spent some time with his lover George Sand.
Because the island inspired the compositions of many of Chopin's masterpieces, it seems it holds a special fondness for Nobuyuki.
We are enjoying a long, long holiday. I am thankful to my friends and the beautiful nature of Majorca.
So, Nobu may still be on holiday after all!
Photo above: Captain Charles, Nobu, and Mrs. Tsujii on a dock. In the background: moored cruise boats lined up under a clear blue sky. The captain has one arm around the shoulders of Nobu, who is wearing a black Ampelmännchen (Germany traffic signal man) T-shart and tan shorts.
Photo above: Nobu seated next to Captain Charles on the open boat. "In the best position next to the driver's seat, [Nobu] enjoys the sea and wind of Majorca."
♪ April 10 Mao Asada -- Nobu's "ideal female" - retires from her career as figure skater
I don't think it came as a big surprise, but the news of the retirement of beloved figure skater Mao Asada most certainly saddens a lot of people in Japan, including Nobu and many of his fans.
Ms. Asada is a couple of years younger than Nobu, and Nobu has repeatedly mentioned publicly that he regards her as his ideal "female type" because of her stamina and resilience.
Let's hope Nobu is not too crushed by the announcement, and all our best to Ms. Asada.
More at => Japan Times article
♪ April 9 Nobu not among "a wealth of jewels in Tokyo's 'acoustic treasure chest' "?
In an article published on the U.K. site Bachtrack, "A wealth of jewels in Tokyo's 'acoustic treasure chest' ,” several world renowned orchestras are scheduled to perform in Suntory Hall in November to celebrate the venue's reopening this fall. I guess the October performance of Nobu and the London Philharmonic Orchestra does not count as one of those jewels.
More at => Nobu not among "a wealth of jewels in Tokyo's 'acoustic treasure chest' "?
♪ April 9 The Nobuyuki Tsujii Official Site overseas concert 2017/18 schedules updated
I didn't notice until just now, but the schedules were updated on April 7, according to the site.
The 2017 schedule now includes the recital in Paris on October 23. The 2018 schedule now includes 4 performances in Liverpool and 4 in Austria.
♪ April 9 Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital summer 2017 tickets sell like hotcakes
Tickets for the 3 duo performances of Nobu with violinist Fumiaki Miura this summer in Nagano have come on sale.
The two shows (August 26, 27) at the Yatsugatake came on general sale today in Japan and were sold out instantly.
Nobu will perform Debussy in solo and Franck's violin sonata in duo.
Posting on http://www.yatsugatake.co.jp/
4.09 14:45 現在 三浦文彰・辻井伸行コンサート 全席、全室完売となりました。ありがとうございました。
As of now, all seats for the Fumiaki Miura · Nobuyuki Tsujii Concerts and all rooms are sold out. Thank you very much.
Tickets for the Ohga Hall performance (August 30) come on sale April 30. http://www.ohgahall.or.jp/concert/details.php?cid=3031
♪ March 31 The 家庭画報 "Family Pictorial" Magazine Nobu series continues -- new article in its May issue
https://twitter.com/KG_akiyama/status/847758422816677888
関西・東海地区は本日発売の家庭画報5月号。大好評連載「辻井伸行 音の旅人」のテーマは”三大作曲家への挑戦”です。ぜひ、ご覧下さい。 http://www.kateigaho.com/sp/magazine/ The Kansai · Tokai area May issue of the "Family Pictorial" is released today. The theme of the great popular series "Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii" is "Challenge of Three Great Composers". Please take a look.
♪