Notable web postings - March 2017

Continued from Notable web postings - February 2017

Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival

♪  Japan's 3.11 Disaster remembered

♪ Nobu resumes his Bach/Mozart/Beethoven Japan Recital Tour on March 8

The March 8 concert will take place in Fukusima, in advance of the 6th anniversary of March 11 2011 Tsunami disaster

March 8 3月8日 (水)  18:30  【福島】いわき芸術文化交流館アリオス [Fukushima] Iwaki Art and Culture Exchange Center Arios 

♪ March 28 "accounts of how he learns music are fascinating"

This tweet brightens me day.

Nobuyuki Tsujii's accounts of how he learns music are fascinating https://sites.google.com/site/nobufans/nobuyuki-faq/faq-1

The page referred to, about how Nobu learns the music that he plays, was put together by ... me!

So glad it got some attention. I really want people to know just how extraordinary Nobu is.

I also added a paragraph about that on Nobu's English wiki page, and it seems to have been quoted a few times already. ^_^

https://twitter.com/DrCanonic/status/846515704211931136

♪ March 24  Cherry Trees are blooming in Japan

Mrs. Tsujii wrote today on her blog:

"Yesterday, the flowering declaration of the cherry blossoms in Tokyo was announced.

The other day I took this photo of a cherry tree at Meguro Immortals on my way back from my grandmother 's grave.

Is the peak of O hanami [flower viewing] next week? I am Looking forward to it." 

I immediately thought of a piece that I posted about this time last year => The Cherry Trees bloom in the heart of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii

♪ March 25  Nobu on stage in Paris this October  <= NEW GIG

Exciting news! This came up just today:

Nobuyuki Tsujii recital @TCEOPERA Theatre de Champs Elysees Paris

http://2018.theatrechampselysees.fr/saison/recital/recital-instruments-musique-de-chambre/nobuyuki-tsujii

The young Japanese pianist, a star in his country and a rising star in the world scene,  in a fiery and romantic program.

Programme

Beethoven Sonata No. 8 op. 13 "Pathetique"

Sonata No. 30 op. 109

Chopin Twelve Etudes op. 10

Liszt Feux-follets, Harmonies du Soir, Mazeppa (extracts from the Transcendental Etudes)

Blind from birth, Nobuyuki Tsujii learned the piano strictly by ear, with the help of his family and loved ones. Winner of the Van Cliburn Competition in 2009, he dazzled the jury with his interpretation of the Chopin etudes.  Of him, the dean of the pianist office Menahem Pressler said: "I have the greatest admiration for him. God took his eyes but gave him physical and musical gifts that allow him to master the greatest works of the repertoire."  Here is finally this musician with the sonority of gold in his great Parisian debut and his repertoire of predilection.

This is Nobu's second recital in France, 3 years since his France debut recital at the Louvre, April 17, 2014

More at Nobuyuki Tsujii in France, October 2017

♪ March 21 辻井伸行in大阪 Nobuyuki Tsujii in Osaka

Yoshiko Ikuma 伊熊よし子 is a prolific classical music writer in Japan. She has written concert program notes for and numerous interviews on Nobu, including the ongoing year-long Nobu serial appearing in Japans 家庭画報"Family Illustrated" Magazine

She was in Osaka on March 18 for Nobu's recital in the Osaka Symphony Hall, and posted an article on her blog, with one photo of Nobu.

"Because these pieces were played also in the European performance in February, they became more seasoned performances, full of confidence. "

Original posting in Japanese => http://blog.yoshikoikuma.jp/?eid=245567

English translation => Yoshiko Ikuma blog post on Nobuyuki Tsujii in Osaka 

♪ March 20 Tweet of the day: "Who needs eyes ..."

https://twitter.com/Hassan_Eldine/status/844025090106974208

Who needs eyes when the soul sees the heart, when the hands can speak the language of the soul

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqoV4ZW7xTA … Nobuyuki Tsujii

♪ March 18 "Tickets were sold out in 5 minutes"

For those of us outside Japan, it is hard to imagine what some people there go through to get tickets for some of the most popular concerts of Nobuyui Tsujii.

Read an amusing blog post by one who waited in front of the PC for an hour to buy tickets for a show of Nobu with the LPO this October.

Original => http://ameblo.jp/fami-sop/entry-12257612365.html

English translation => "Tickets were sold out in 5 minutes"

♪ March 19 tweets (Kanazawa general tickets came on sale at 10AM March 18)

https://twitter.com/1985Rl/status/843456673607892992

昨日ラッキーにも、ずっと行きたくて何日も前から目をつけてたこの公演の千秋楽チケットを一般でゲットできました😭 まさか辻井伸行氏の弾くラフマニノフを生で聴けるなんて、もう絶対泣くやつ😭 10分足らずで完売したようで、相変わらず凄い人気。今から楽しみです🙌✨

Luckily yesterday I was able to get a general ticket for this performance; I had wanted to go for a while and watched from a long time ago 😭 No way to hear Rakhmaninoff played by Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii live, I will definitely be crying. It seems that it sold out in less than 10 minutes' he is still amazingly popular. Looking forward to it now.

https://twitter.com/kirenenko0401/status/843439481751396352

辻井伸行さん、ラフマニノフピアノ協奏曲第2番のコンサートやるの知らなかった、、、、。もっと早くチェックしておけばよかった。10月なのに案の定全席完売。彼のラフマニノフ生で聴きたかった悔しくて泣きそう。この無念の行き場。。。。。

Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii, I did not know that he will perform the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2 at a concert. I should have checked it sooner. Even though it won't be until October, all the tickets have sold out. I wanted to listen to his Rachmaninoff; I feel like crying. Such a regrettable situation

♪ March 18 Nobu interview on ぶらあぼ  Classical Music and Dance, etc.  Magazine April  issue

Nobu talks about: his upcoming performances of  Rach 2 and Tchai 1 with Vladimir Jurowski and London Philharmonic Orchestra; playing Bach; kneading clay objects

"I am feeling a change in expressions because I have grown older. I have more sensitivity now than when I was at age 20. Also when a work is played at first, there is a tendency to become excited in the performance and just wanting to go on stage [to show off]. But in recent years I have been able to keep calm ... while keeping up with my youthful energy."

"in 2013, when I was touring with [Vladirmir Ashkenazy], I heard him practicing Bach's Italian Concerto one day when he was free, and I realize that even someone like him is still practicing Bach, so I chose to play that work with this recital tour.

"The feeling of clay is pleasant, and the feeling of the fingers when making shapes by turning the potter wheel is somewhat similar to playing the piano. "

More at => Nobuyuki Tsujii interview -- ぶらあぼ March 18 2017

 ♪♪ March 13

Suntory Hall tweet:

https://twitter.com/SuntoryHall_PR/status/841217668032094208

【会員先行発売 3/14(火)～15(水)】「辻井伸行(ピアノ) ウラディーミル・ユロフスキ指揮 ロンドン・フィル」10/12（木）開催。チャイコフスキー：ピアノ協奏曲第1番、交響曲第5番ほか

[Member advance tickets 3/14-15] Nobuyuki Tsujii (piano) & Vladimir Jurowski conducting London Philharmonic Orchestra; October 12. Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1, Symphony No. 5, etc.

 https://t.co/WDAt66FW67

And this tweet came up soon around 10:20 AM Japan ti me

https://twitter.com/yokopianocrazy/status/841465114347806721

10/14 (土) 辻井伸行 ウラディーミル・ユロフスキ指揮 ロンドン・フィル@ミューザ川崎。歳のいった両親と地元川崎で思い出に、と1ヶ月前からS席3枚買おうとスタンバイしてたのにまさかの販売開始10分で売り切れ… 泣きたい(;_;) #辻井伸行

10/14 (Sat) Nobuyuki Tsujii Vladimir Jurowski conducting London Phil @ Muza Kawasaki. Thinking about my old parents in local Kawasaki, I had been waiting since a month ago to buy three S seats but they were sold out in 10 minutes ... I want to cry (; _;) # Nobuyuki Tsujii

This person then tweeted calling for people who might have 3 tickets to spare.

March 18 tweet

10月のロンドンフィル＆辻井伸行さんの演奏会。やはりチケットは即日完売。先行抽選で当たったチケット引き取ってみたら、これがとても良い席。プラチナチケットの気分。７ヶ月後だなんて先は長い。

October-London Phil & Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii concert. But tickets were sold out in a day. I managed to snag a hit in the discount lottery tickets, and got very good seats. The mood of the Platinum tickets. Seven months is a long wait.

♪♪ March 15 In the news: Nobu's former professor Dr. Yukio Yokoyama

You may remember Dr. Yukio Yokoyama from the 2009 Cliburn Competition documentary?

His is the professor from Nobu's university, Ueno Gakuen in Tokyo, who flew to Texas on short notice to help with Nobu's performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 at the competition.

Unfortunately, it is reported in Japan news that Dr. Yokoyama has just been let go by the university, due to his involvement in the investigation of corruption at the university's administration.

Allegedly, Dr. Y improperly released confidential information to media during the investigation.

Nobu is mentioned in the news (such as http://bunshun.jp/articles/-/1764), although he has nothing to do with the affair except as a former student at the "prestigious music" university (Dr. Y was one of his professors.)

Dr. Y is appealing the dismissal, and I wish him the best.

Image source: http://jp.yamaha.com/♪ March 14 Naumburg Concerts‏ @Naumburgconcert  tweeted

https://twitter.com/Naumburgconcert/status/841757083729068032

    “Hearing the amazing pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii perform Beethoven’s Emperor concerto at the Naumburg Bandshell was magical.”-Annie Bergen @WQXR

Ah, those glorious summer days in Central Park. The picture is quite different today -- after a late winter blizzard that just struck Northeast USA!  But it's fun imagining Nobu playing in the bandshell with the orchestra -- in snow.

New York City March 14, 2017. Image source: WABC TV

♪ March 13  Nobuyuki Tsujii: Perfectly two-dimensional

This article, in English, came out of the blue. It is posted on http://www.interactiongreen.com/, a California based website. The writer (unnamed but the organization's CEO is Ms. Miho Fujio 藤美保代) attended Nobu's recital in Sonoma (California) in April 2015 (I was there) and this article refers to that experience.

... his interpretation is completely different from those who do it through visualization. The end result is truly special.

The writer (a musician) argues that by making the most of his hearing, Nobu is able to bring out a distinctive sound without the visualization that sighted musicians depend on.

During the concert ..., I felt like I was listening to, and enjoying, the vibration the piano was making, not just the sounds. We don’t usually give it a thought, but sound is actually vibration. It moves the air, and it travels through air. It reverberates with objects. Because Tsujii’s ears are so keen, I almost felt that he was trying to convey the best vibration, along with the sound of the piano. And the vibration reached me and was reverberating within my skull. It was euphoric. I said to myself, hey, my skull is now filled with music! For the first time in my life, I was listening to the music not through my ears, but through my bones.

Read the entire article here => http://www.interactiongreen.com/abundance-subtraction-music-piano-nobuyuki-tsujii/

♪ March 9  7.3 million views of "Still we live on" YouTube video

Yura's tweeted:

3.11東日本大震災から6年。鎮魂歌として世界中で継続して聴かれています。現在の視聴回数が730万回。『made me cry』などのコメント多数。NYカーネギーホールデビューアンコールに弾いた『それでも、生きてゆく』 🎹辻井伸行

6 years since the 3.11 Great East Japan Earthquake. Nobu's requiem for the victims has been heard all over the world. The current viewing count of this video is 7.3 million times. Many comments such as 'made me cry'. Nobuyuki Tsujii played 'Still we survive' as last encore at his Carnegie Hall debut (in 2011)."

The YouTube video is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqoV4ZW7xTA♪

♪ March 8 Domestic concert schedule updated

The Nobuyuki Tsujii Official Site has posted the full schedule for the 2017 Premium recitals and the Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recitals

There are 10 performances of the Premium recitals => Nobuyuki Tsujii 2017 Premium Recitals

And, to the disappointment of many , the Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recitals are limited to three performances in Nagano only => Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital summer 2017

♪ New summer gigs announced - 三浦文彰×辻井伸行ュオ・リサイタル Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital

Credit goes to Nobu fan Shinobu for spotting these announcements -- these will be hot tickets!

三浦文彰×辻井伸行デュオ・リサイタル Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital

八ヶ岳高原音楽堂 8/26(土)・8/27(日）

16:30 開場 17:30 開演 4/9(日)13時発売

プログラムは、軽井沢大賀ホールと同じようです。ひょっとして全国ツアーも!?

軽井沢大賀ホール 8/30(水)15時開演 4/30(日)一般発売

Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital

Yatsugatake Kogen Hall 8/26 (Sat) · 8/27 (Sun)

16: 30 opening 17: 30 opening 4/9 (Sun) released at 13 o'clock

Karuizawa Ohga Hall 8/30 (Wednesday) 15 o'clock opening 4/30 (Sun) General release

The program listed

プログラム】

バッハ：無伴奏ヴァイオリンのためのパルティータ第3番【ヴァイオリン・ソロ】

ドビュッシー：映像 第1集、喜びの島【ピアノ・ソロ】

フランク：ヴァイオリン・ソナタ【デュオ】

ほか

【Program】

Bach: Partita No. 3 for unaccompanied violin 【Violin · solo】

Debussy: Picture 1st, Island of joy 【Piano · Solo】

Franck: Violin · Sonata [Duet] and others

This seems to be a launch of Mr. Miura with Nobu giving a hand to his buddy.

More info about the known performances and the Franck sonata here => Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii duo recital summer 2017

-------

♪ March 8 Tweet of the Day

https://twitter.com/cari_ck9495/status/839349942065983488

NOBUYUKI TSUJII is a PURE TALENTED SOUL. Our eyes can't hear but our Soul can see.

♪ March 6  Reenactment of Nobu's final meeting with Mr. Van Cliburn in 2013

UPDATE: I have been informed that the footage is actually a reenactment.  Mr. Cliburn and Nobu were played by actors in the scene.  ^_^   A good job nevertheless.

I didn't realize that  one of the clips posted by Yura (THANKS!) from the "30 people that Japan can boast to the world" show broadcast yesterday in Japan has some precious footage that I had never seen before.

In the footage, Nobu is shown paying a visit to the Texas home of Mr. Van Cliburn in year 2013, just one month before his death.

I knew that the visit took place, but had never seen any photo of it. Nobu mentions the visit in his moving Eulogy for Mr. Van Cliburn by Nobuyuki Tsujii

I took the  liberty of making a video of the clip, shown below.  More at => Nobuyuki Tsujii meets his hero Van Cliburn 2013

♪  March 6  Nobu named one of "30 people that Japan can boast to the world"

日本テレビ

「成功の遺伝史 第4弾 〜日本が世界に誇る30人〜」

3月6日（月）19:56〜22:54

"Fourth genetic history of success -- 30 people that Japan is proud of in the world"

March 6 (Monday) 19: 56 ~ 22: 54

Yura watched the show and shared a couple of tweets:

https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/838738552821166080 <= click to see a short clip, if you wish

【音楽DVDクラシック部門 総売上枚数 歴代１位を記録したピアニストは❓】

さださん『え〜と、辻井君！辻井伸行君！』🎵🎊

《成功の遺伝子 日本が世界に誇る30人》

【Music DVD classic division pianist with recordings  of top total sales number in a row】

Mr. Sada:  "Eh, and Mr. Tsujii! Nobuyuki Tsujii! "🎵🎊

"Success of 30 people that Japan can boast to the world"

https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/838747798178684928 <= click to see a short clip, if you wish

成功の遺伝子は 🇺🇸ヴァン・クライバーン氏 『今はインターネットで簡単にクラシックが聴ける。だがそれではクラシック音楽の本当の魅力は伝わらない。コンサートホールに人を呼べる人間になりなさい』 🇯🇵辻井伸行『クラシックに馴染みのない方にも足を運んでもらえるピアニストになりたい』

Success of inheritance  [from?] Mr. Van Cliburn "Now I can easily listen to classical music on the internet. But then, the true charm of classical music is not transmitted. It takes a human being who can draw people into the concert hall."  Nobuyuki Tusjii.  "I want to become a pianist who can also touch those who are not familiar with classical music "

♪ March 6 Nobu performed in a private concert last week

I was away this weekend but Yura kept busy! She ttweeted on March 3 thatYura tweeted on March 3:

欧州ツアー後ベルリンでレコーディング📀帰国後すぐ”積水化学創立記念リサイタル”~？🎹😲❣️ 自作やドビュッシー、『幸せなみらい』とゆうお祝いの辻井伸行自作も披露したようですね

Recording in Berlin after European tour 📀"Sekisui Chemical foundation recital" immediately after returning home?

It seems that he performed Debussy and his own work

The performance referred to in the tweet is mentioned in  this blog post

http://ameblo.jp/tazoenahoko/entry-12253097511.html (blog of 田添菜穂子, moderator at the private concert )

辻井伸行さんピアノリサイタル司会☆

Nobuyuki Tsujii Mr. Piano Recital Moderator

今日は積水化学グループ創立70周年記念式典での

辻井伸行さんのピアノリサイタルの司会でした。

再びご一緒できて嬉しかったです！

Today at the 70th anniversary celebration of Sekisui Chemical Group

Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii was the host of a piano recital.

It was my pleasure to be able to participate!

辻井さんはヨーロッパツアーから戻ってきたばかり！

今回の旅のお話や自作曲にまつわるお話も楽しく聞かせて頂きながら進行☆

イタリアのヴェネツィアやトスカーナ、スペインのマジョルカ島…

語って下さった通りの景色が思い浮かぶステキな曲であり、演奏でした！

Mr. Tsujii has just returned from a Europe tour!

In his talk he happily told stories about this trip and his self-made songs

Italian Venice and Tuscany, Spain's Majorca Island ...

It was a wonderful song that conjures up the scenery that he talked about, and it was a performance!

そして、みずみずしい雰囲気で奏でるドビュッシーの２つのアラベスクや

打鍵が胸に心地よく響く迫力の英雄ポロネーズも

近くで聴けて幸せでした☆

And Debussy's two arabesque played in a fresh atmosphere

Heroic Polonaise -- powerful keystrokes that hit the chest comfortably

I was happy to listen nearby ☆

s今日の創立70周年のお祝いのために！

辻井さんが作曲された「しあわせな未来」という曲もとってもステキで、

うっとりしながら聴きました(^_^)

For the celebration of the 70th anniversary of our founding!

Mr. Tsujii composed a song "Happy Future" that was  very nice,

Listening to it I felt my enthusiasm rising.

♪ March 3 "The Pianist 2016" broadcast on BS-Fuji TV

Nobu fan Yura of Osaka (BIG thanks!) posted these clips from the show to share with us, on her Twitter account.

You can see the clips on her Twitter account, or please click on these individual links

Nobu plays Tribute to Jenny =>  https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/837665382131326980

Nobu plays "Angel's wings" => https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/837662564754452480

Nobu plays Heroic Polonaise => https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/837669309669224449  

Nobuyuki Tsujii x Les Frères familiar improvisational boogie-woogie => https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/837675546813181952

All playing "Twilight Waltz"=> https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/837676189930016768

BSフジ(BS Fuji)

『辻井伸行×加古隆×レ・フレール THE PIANIST』 2016

3月3日（金）22：00～23：25

"Nobuyuki Tsujii × Takashi Kako × Les Freres THE PIANIST" 2016

March 3 (Fri) 22: 00 ~ 23: 25

http://www.bsfuji.tv/tsujii/pub/007.html

UPDATE: The show can now be viewed on your computer -- information here => "The Pianist 2016" broadcast on BS-Fuji <= info here

♪ Feb 26  Nobu on "Untitled Concert" (Japan TV show)

「題名のない音楽会」2500回記念(4) 歴史を彩る音楽会

テレビ朝日 2月26日(日) 9:00-9:30

BS朝日 3月5日（日）23:00-23:30

"Untitled Concert " 2500th episode Concert (4th)

TV Asahi February 26 (Sun) 9: 00-9: 30

BS Asahi March 5 (Sun) 23: 00-23: 30

A video of the show can now be viewed on your computer below, or please click this link=> Nobuyuki Tsujii in 2017 Untitled Concert

Nobu's appearance starts at time mark 11:00.

Comments about the show can be found at => Nobuyuki Tsujii on Feb 26 2017 "Untitled Concert" TV show

♪ March 1  Nobu as one of  "30 people that Japan is proud of in the world"

Posted on The Nobuyuki Tsujii Official Site

日本テレビ

「成功の遺伝史 第4弾 〜日本が世界に誇る30人〜」

3月6日（月）19:56〜22:54

"Fourth genetic history of success -- 30 people that Japan is proud of in the world"

March 6 (Monday) 19: 56 ~ 22: 54

This article mentions the show but not Nobu

http://www.news24.jp/articles/2017/02/28/08355248.html

But reading this article that came just now, I have to wonder about the company that Nobu is in on this list of "30 people that Japan is proud of in the world"

http://www.asahi.com/and_w/interest/entertainment/CORI2086751.html

このほかゲストに大島優子、劇団ひとり、博多大吉、スペシャルゲストにさだまさしを迎え、菅田将暉、高畑充希、渡辺直美、miwa、羽生結弦、三浦知良、五郎丸歩、大谷翔平、内村航平、プーチン（ロシア大統領）、坂本勇人、平野美宇、伊調馨、野老朝雄（東京五輪エンブレムデザイナー）、國村準、辻井伸行、秋元治、奈良橋陽子、井山裕太（棋士）などジャンルを超えた成功者がVTRで登場する。

It seems Anwar Sadat (former Egypt president) amd Vladimir Putin (Russia) are among the 30 "people that Japan is proud of in the world" -- Putin? SERIOUSLY???  This must be a joke!!

♪ March 1 New article on Nobu  in "Family Illustrated" magazine

A second installment of a series on Nobu is now in the April issue of the 家庭画報 "Family Illustrated" magazine in Japan.

Yura tweeted:

https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/836920845561798656

『THE PIANIST』加古隆氏は辻井伸行について『彼の音楽は瑞々しさ、水が流れ風が吹いているような自然な感じを味わう事ができ本当に自然体。余分な力が入っていない音色の美しさ』レ・フレール『音楽に人柄がそのまま表れている。純粋で透明感があり天空の音楽で神聖さを感じる』☆家庭画報

"THE PIANIST"  costars on Nobuyuki Tsujii:   Mr. Kako Takashi: 'his music is freshness; you can taste the natural feeling of water flowing and the wind  blowing; truly a natural body.  The Les Frère: 'Beauty of tone color with no extra force ' , 'There is a purity and a clear sense of a feeling of  the sacredness in the music of the sky. "

☆ Family Illustrated.

♪