interview-7
The following is the first known interview that came from Europe. It appeared on This is Staffordshire the day (December 10, 2010) of Nobu's concert with the BBC Philharmonics and Conductor Yutaka Sado, in the city of Hanley/Stoke-on-Trent in England.
Pianist Hope Sparks Will Fly
Nobuyuki Tsujii is playing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 alongside the BBC Philharmonic tonight.
IF YOU only attend one concert in this season's Stoke-on-Trent Festival, make it tonight's.
Appearing for the first time in the UK, and therefore making his Victoria Hall debut, is Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii.
Born totally blind in 1988, Nobuyuki, or Nobu as he is affectionately known, is fast becoming one of the best pianists of his generation. Tonight, he will perform Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 alongside the BBC Philharmonic.
"This will be the first time I've ever been to the UK," says Nobu, who was born in Tokyo. "I'm looking forward to coming to Manchester and meeting the orchestra and I'm excited to visit Stoke-on-Trent."
Having listened to stories of how he would sit at the piano aged two and improvise harmonies to his mother's singing, Nobu's musical career began at a very young age.
At five, he found himself performing to a small crowd at a music shop on Saipan Island and the rest, as they say, is history.
"I remember I was in the shop when I heard someone playing the piano. It was actually an automatic piano but I insisted on playing it myself. One of the staff stopped it playing and allowed me to have a go. I played Ballade Pour Adeline by Richard Clayderman and when I finished there was an audience around me applauding and shouting 'bravo.' This was my first public performance and I think it was the turning point in my life."
Tonight, Nobu will present a more challenging work at the Victoria Hall in the form of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1. He admits that it will only be the second time he has performed it in public, but believes his fascination with the work will shine through.
He says: "I gave my first public performance of the work in the U.S. back in October, but I've been familiar with the music for a long time, before I was born in fact. My mother says she used to play it for me while she was pregnant and I think it's because of this that I have a true sympathy with the music."
Conducted by Yutaka Sado, the concert will also include Smetna's The Bartered Bride and Dvorak's Symphony No.9 (From the New World).
"Maestro Yutaka Sado has been supporting me for a long period," says Nobu, a multi-award winner. "He is very tall with a big heart and we share a 'hearts on fire' character. I hope to spark in the third movement of the concerto. I also believe he has worked with the BBC Philharmonic regularly and tells me of their great reputation."
The BBC Philharmonic and Nobuyuki Tsujii can be seen at the Victoria Hall, Hanley tonight at 8pm. Tickets cost between £13 and £28.50, available from the box office.