Nobuyuki Tsujii in Poland, May 2012

<<This page is linked to Critics' Reviews>>

On May 18, Nobuyuki Tsujii performed Chopin's Piano Concerto No 1  at a university in  Poznana, Poland.  Nobu's perofrmance of this concerto never fails to bring the house down, and this one is no exception.  But, because it took place in the homeland of Frederik Chopin, who is near and dear to Nobu's heart, this performance perhaps  has special significance to Nobu.  As you can see in the photo below, he won the hearts of the orchestra, as he has done time and time again. (Photo source:  http://www.radiomerkury.pl/informacje/muzyczne/nobuyuki-tsujii-i-fryderyk-chopin.html) 

Scroll down to see more photos and stuff below.

NEW On May 20:  An alert Nobu fan, M.K.,  turned up a blog entry  written in Polish, about the concert.  It has some very positive and insightful things to say about Nobu. Unfortunately, a review in the Poznan Gazatte (local newspaper) was not as kind ot Nobu.  Scroll down to read all about it.

Photo from  http://www.radiomerkury.pl/informacje/muzyczne/nobuyuki-tsujii-i-fryderyk-chopin.html

News from Poland

On MAY 13, when this link of to the  Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra home page is clicked, http://www.filharmoniapoznanska.pl/ there is a video about the May 18 concert in Poland (KONCERT TARGOWY EMIGRANCI concert of the emigrants) in which Nobu will perform Chopin Piano Concerto 1.  The video features the audio of Nobu's performance  in the background, as a Polish man talks about Chopin and the concert.  You can hear Nobu mentioned as the "pianist star".  Nobu is top billed for this concert in the homeland of Frederik Chopin.

MAY 17,

http://cjg.gazeta.pl/CJG_Poznan/1,104399,11737122,Chopin_i_Korngold_czyli_emigranci_w_auli_UAM.html

English http://bit.ly/JlGtVN

Chopin and Korngold or Immigrants in the auditorium of UAM (with photo of conductor Lukasz Borowicz)

What can connect the nineteenth century composer and virtuoso pianist, Frederic Chopin by Erich Korngold's film music? This link explains the title of the next concert in Poznan Philharmonic, "The Emigrants," which will be held on Friday 18 May at 19 in the auditorium of the AMU.

The pair spent most of his life in exile. Chopin in Paris, Korngold in Hollywood. The one is said to be a composer of one instrument on a second - that is a film composer. Meanwhile, Chopin left behind not only the mazurkas, nocturnes, etudes and polonaises, but also symphonic compositions. Korngold and outside of music for many films has also written four operas, a large amount of chamber music including string quintets, a piano trio, a suite for two violins, cello and piano, and instrumental concerts.

During Friday night the Poznan audience will hear Piano Concerto in E minor" by Frédéric Chopin., and the rarely performed "Symphony in F sharp major" op.40 by Erich Korngold.

Poznan Philharmonic Orchestra will play under the baton of Lukasz Borowicz, with a soloist Nobuyuki Tsujii - piano.

MAY 18

On this page, http://www.radiomerkury.pl/informacje/muzyczne/nobuyuki-tsujii-i-fryderyk-chopin.htmlyou can click on a link to hear Nobuyuki Tsujii being interviewed for a radio program in Poland.  Click on "Zobacz" button then the top of the two audio tracks. The frequence utterances of "So desu ne (let me see)" is unmistakably Nobu.  :-)

The interview ends with Nobu being taught to say "Thank you" dziękuję in Polish. He did well and sounded relaxed and happy.

These photos were among 8 that were posted on this page http://www.radiomerkury.pl/informacje/muzyczne/nobuyuki-tsujii-i-fryderyk-chopin.html   Click on the bottom "Zobacz" button to see 8 excellent photos. 

May 20:  An alert Nobu fan turned up an article,  written in Polish, about the concert: http://miko-only-good-music.blogspot.jp/2012/05/magiaw-filharmonii.html   Rough English translation here: http://bit.ly/LaO72H and shown below with my interpretation -- the text in pointed brackets are my own editorial additions to the original article.

May 18

The magic of the Philharmonic ...

I promised that today ...  I will write about  my impression of the Japanese pianist <Nobuyuki Tsujii> at the <May 18> concert. For me the concert was very touching and remarkable.  ... . two things stuck in my memory particularly ... the color and sense of dynamics of Tsujii's performance,  and his smile during the ovation -- a  sincere smile that said everything and, above all, how much fun he had with the  music that he had just finish making. His playing was magic, which is so often sorely missing <in classical music concerts.>

.... From the first to the last sound, I stared at the soloist in amazement (and sometimes with tears in my eyes). When I learned that Nobuyuki Tsujii will play in Poznan, I had no doubt that we would have a  technically well-trained pianist, but I did not expect such a mature interpretation. Of course, technique is one thing, but the real success is achieved through interpretation. This is how the way Tsujii touched the keys, building the tension, made the Poznan Philharmonic concert so special. I once wrote in a notebook that musical events are divided into the metaphysical  and physical ...  "Without a doubt", today we have witnessed an event of the metaphysical. Not so long ago there was a discussion on the interpretation of Chopin's concertos. Some resented the attitude or mannerism of <Evgeni>  Bozhanov <a finalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn Competition as well as the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition>, the immaturity of <Daniil> Trifonovav <winner of the Chopin Competition as well as the Tchaikovsky Competition>  -- which I do not fully agree, and the strange playing of  <Yulianna> Avdeeva <Chopin Competition winner> .

The interpretation of Tsujii, to me, was very mature and sophisticated, and coherent.  ...  I had no doubt that  the artist feels the music as he went through each sound and each sustained pause. The most enchanted part, to me, is that you could hear in the music the  immensity of space. He obtained this space not only through rubato, but the way he ended each phrase. There was not one unneeded  sound. Each voice proved to be important overall to deliver stunningly smooth phrases arranged in a beautifully "painted" whole.

I have no doubt that we are dealing with a huge talent that, as soon as he is well-directed, can lead to a pianist at the top.

Author: Mikołaj Mikołaj i Ania  at 15:53

This author wrote a short piece before this review, based on his/her listening of Nobu's Cliburn CD http://miko-only-good-music.blogspot.jp/2012/05/nobuyuki-tsujii.html

May 17 2012

Nobuyuki Tsujii

Jakoś tak dziwnie sie składa, iż pisząc jednego posta, od razu następny "przychodzi" jakby automatycznie... jakiś czas temu okazało się, iż dziś będziemy mogli usłyszeć w Poznaniu pianistę wyjątkowego... czekałem na ten koncert, od kiedy udało mi się o nim przeczytać, czyli jakieś pół roku temu.

Niewidomy od urodzenia (rocznik 1988) japoński pianista i... kompozytor- udowadnia swoją grą, iż muzyka nie zna barier, muzyka... a raczej sztuka... Powiem szczerze. Nie czuję się żadnym specjalistą od interpretacji Chopina. Więcej, przykładem impertynencji było by z mojej strony napisanie, że znam się na jego muzyce (głównie przez szacunek dla badaczy jego muzyki), i również z pewnym dystansem podchodzę do interpretacji Chopina, przez Japończyków, Chińczyków czy Koreańczyków. Głównie z jednego- jakże ważnego- powodu. Wielu z nich gra na prawdę dobrze technicznie, jednak brak w tych interpretacjach jakiejś "magii". Posługując się typologią Strawińskiego- przedstawioną w jego "Poetyce muzycznej"- mamy w takich przypadkach do czynienia z wykonawcami, nie zaś interpretatorami. Czy pisząc bardziej dosadnie, wielu jest doskonałymi... rzemieślnikami... jadnakże w przypadku "Nobu"... mamy do czynienia z interpretatorem... może nie genialnym (takich jest bowiem na świecie kilku), ale wybitnym... słuchałem jego interpretacji- z Konkursu Van Cliburna... i porównałem je z interpretacjami laureatów Konkursu Chopinowskiego... wypadł on przy nich bardzo dobrze... cóż- zwłaszcza porównując ze zwyciężczynią... nie mnie oceniać werdykt, jednak, nie zgadzam się z nim- ale to już "inna bajka"... tak czy inaczej, czekam na koncert z niecierpliwością...a przeżyciami podzielę się już niedługo...!

------

Strangely,  this post is written just when we can hear today in Poznan this exceptional pianist ... I've been waiting for this concert, ever since I could read about him about half a year ago.

Blind from birth (born 1988), this Japanese pianist/composer proves with his playing that music knows no barriers, music ... or  rather, art ... Quite frankly. I do not claim to be an expert in the interpretation of Chopin. Furthermore, I do not claim to know  his music well(mainly out of respect for the scholars of his music), and I also view with a certain distance the interpretation of Chopin by the Japanese, Chinese or Koreans. Mainly for one reason. Many of them play really well technically, but lack in the interpretations of some "magic". Using the typology presented in Stravinsky's "Poetics of Music" - in such cases we are dealing with contractors, rather than interpreters.

To put it more bluntly, many are excellent ... artisans ... in the case of "Nobu" ... are  we dealing with an interpreter ... is he brilliant (at the world level), or outstanding ?... I listened to his interpretation <of the CD>  from the Van Cliburn Competition ... and compared them with the interpretations of the Chopin Competition winners ... He compares with them very well ... especially in comparison with the winner ... I do not judge the verdict, however, did not agree with it - but that's a "different story" ... anyway, I'm looking forward to the concert ... and will share my experiences soon ...!

Author: Mikołaj Mikołaj Anya at 16:51

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On May 21, this blogger wrote again:

http://miko-only-good-music.blogspot.com/search?q=nobuyuki+tsujii

poniedziałek, 21 maja 2012

Nobuyuki Tsujii w Poznaniu czyli gazeta.pl, recenzja i polemika

Czekałem z niecierpliwością na recenzje z piątkowego koncertu. Znalazłem- jak do tej pory jedną... w sieci. Adam Olaf Gibowski, który jest autorem recenji zamieszczonej na stronie gazeta.pl, napisał, iż zabrakło przejmującej liryczności i śpiewności frazy, bardziej wyważonej dynamiki, wyrazistego rubata i wreszcie romantycznej fantazji i interpretacyjnego temperamentu... Bardziej wyważonej dynamiki? Cóż... wydaje mi się, że Tsujii dysponuje niezwykłym wyczuciem dynamiki... to właśnie urzekło mnie w jego grze. Dynamika oscylująca między dość "mocnym" forte a będącym na granicy słyszalności piano zwłaszcza w Romanza: Larghetto... płynne przejścia dynamiczne... z użyciem dynamiki "ze środka" mezzo... dały ogólne wrażenie panowania nad dynamiką, która wbrew temu co napisał recenzent była jednak wyważona... dwa zdania, które poświęcił Adam Olaf Gibowski to zdecydowanie za mało jak na pianistę, z którym mieliśmy do czynienia. Autor bowiem skupił się bardziej na utworach Korngolda- drugiego kompozytora, którego utwory zabrzmiały na piątkowym koncercie, być może słusznie, w końcu wydaje się on miej znany, a już na pewno mniej grany niż Chopin. Przyczepił bym się również, do braku według autora recenzji przejmującej liryczności i śpiewności frazy. Liryczność była pierwszą rzeczą jaką zauważyłem już przy pierwszym dotknięciu przez solistę klawiszy. Być może rzeczywiście można przyjąć, iż brakowało romantycznej fantazji (ale z drugiej strony romantyzm został za nami już "parę dobrych lat temu"- choć zapewne autorowi recenzji chodziło o estetykę wykonawczą- nie mogę powiedzieć z całą pewnością, o co Adamowi Olafowi Gibowskiemu chodziło z tą romantyczną fantazją), ale na pewno nie zabrakło interpretacyjnego temperamentu.

Nobuyuki Tsujii in Poznan,  gazeta.pl review, and Controversy

I waited with impatience for reviews of Friday's concert. I found, so far, one ... on the network. Adam Gibowski Olaf, who recently writes for the m.poznan.gazeta.p website, wrote that < the performance of Nobuyuki Tsujj > lacked lyricism, a more balanced dynamics, expressive rubato and finally the romantic fantasy, and interpretive temperament ... A more balanced growth? Well ... I think that Tsujii's dynamics has an extraordinary sensitivity  ... his playing enchanted me. Dynamics of oscillating between relatively "strong" forte and being on the edge of hearing piano especially in Romanza: Larghetto ... has smooth dynamic ... using the dynamic "from inside" mezzo ... gave the general impression of the dynamics of domination, which, contrary to what the reviewer wrote, was balanced ...  Author Gibowski Olaf Adam devoted only  two sentences on the pianist, because he focused more on the works of Korngold, another composer whose music appeared on Friday's concert, who is perhaps justifably less known  than Chopin.  I object to the review assessment about the lyricism and phrases. Lyricism was the first thing I noticed with the soloist's  first touch of the keyboard.  Perhaps indeed it can be assumed that there is a lack of romantic fantasy (but on the other hand romanticism was behind us now for "a few good years ago" - although it was probably has to do with the reviewing author's aesthetics.  I can not say with certainty what Adam Olaf Gibowskiemu meant by  romantic fantasy, but Tsujii certainly certainly did not lack in interpretive temperament.

The article referred to, by one Adam Gibowski Olaf, appeared in the Poznan Gazetette on May 20th.  You can read the entire article here: http://cjg.gazeta.pl/CJG_Poznan/1,104399,11762858,Chopin_i_Korngold_czyli_wielcy_emigranci_w_auli_UAM.html

The reviewer spent most of the review discussing musicology more than the performances, and seems to favor the little known composer Korngold over Chopin.  As mentioned by the blogger, he spent only two sentences on Nobu at the end of the article:

Zanim jednak usłyszeliśmy wielką symfonię Korngolda, pierwszą część wieczoru wypełniło wykonanie jednego z dwóch koncertów fortepianowych Chopina. W roli solisty wystąpił 23-letni Japończyk Nobuyuki Tsuji. To niewątpliwie utalentowany artysta, posiadający sporą technikę gry i dużą wrażliwość, jednak muzyka Chopina w jego interpretacji nie porywała, w wielu momentach wydawała się sucha i akademicka. Brakowało przejmującej liryczności i śpiewności frazy, bardziej wyważonej dynamiki, wyrazistego rubata i wreszcie romantycznej fantazji i interpretacyjnego temperamentu.

But before we heard the great symphony of Korngold, the first part of the evening fulfilled the execution of one of Chopin's two piano concertos. Appeared as soloist is the 23-year-old Japanese Nobuyuki Tsuji. This is undoubtedly a gifted artist, who has a lot of playing technique and high sensitivity, but the music of Chopin in his interpretation is not captivating, at many points seemed to be dry and academic. His playing lacked lyricism and phrasing, a more balanced dynamics, expressive rubato and finally the romantic fantasy, and interpretive temperament. 

Sheesh!

On July 22, this comment appeared in a blog for Pianist an website for pianist Rafel Blechacz62, from someone who was at the concert:

"... Nobu is also admired in Poland. He played the e-minor Concerto on May 25th in our concert hall; Nobu played a mazurka for his encore ;-) The evening was very special, the applause very loud and warm. Łukasz Borowicz, our young conductor, made a nice introduction and he said a few warm words about the pianist to the audience (a nice tradition from Poznań, where conductors often say someting nice about soloists before starting to conduct). .."