miracle - 2

Advancing to the semifinal with eleven other competitors, Nobuyuki’s biggest challenge was to demonstrate that he can play chamber music with the Takacs String Quartet. 

In the documentary “A Surprise in Texas”, there is an amusing scene of his rehearsal, when the quartet had their violin bows at the ready waiting for Nobuyuki to lead while Tsujii was likewise waiting for a signal to start.  A minute passed. When his interpreter told him that he has to lead, Nobuyuki politely asks if he can start now.  You sense some worries from the quartet members.

From the Fort Worth Star-Telegram (http://startelegram.typepad.com/notes_from_the_cliburn/page/3/):

Nobuyuki Tsujii could not see the hall rise up in a four-minute standing ovation after his chamber music recital Friday, but he heard the choruses of “Bravos!” And the enthusiasm continued backstage, after two curtain calls, when members of the Takacs Quartet went up to the blind Japanese pianist to congratulate him on a well-executed performance -- only his second experience ever playing chamber music -- with seamless transitions between movements. He, of course, couldn't use sight cues, like eye contact or nods of the head, which other musicians use to help communicate with each other onstage.

Violist Geraldine Walther pecked the 20-year-old’s pudgy cheek and told him through his interpreter: “It was fantastic, just wonderful, and you played wonderfully.” Later, at the stage door entrance, Walther again embraced Tsujii and said, “It was such a pleasure.” Tsujii played the required chamber music selection from memory, whereas most others in this leg of the competition use music. He credited the 85-minute rehearsal with the Takacs – five minutes less than the scheduled period – for getting the Schumann down pat. First violinist Edward Dusinberre said Tsujii refrained from playing the ending thunderously.

“He was very thoughtful and balanced – a very lyrical player,” Dusinberre said. “He could play big. Toward the end of the Schumann a lot of people make a big bombast. But he came back almost like it was a Bach fugue, and then from there he got louder. I really enjoyed that.”

What also might set Tsujii apart is what he requested for breakfast Friday, nothing typically American, Texan or, for that matter, Japanese. He chowed down on his version of comfort food – beef curry and rice prepared by his mother.(Editorial: I have been to Japan and people there do eat beef curry for breakfast.)

-- Barry Shlachter

In his semifinal recital, Nobuyuki gave a masterful performance of Beethoven’s seldom heard “HammerKlavier.”   One admirer wrote on the web: "“The Fugue of the Hammerkalvier Sonata is among the most difficult pieces to perform at any age, technically, musically and spiritually speaking. The accomplishment of Mr. Tsujii is beyond words.  How he learned the piece without being able to read a normal score  and played the piece with such a security in spite of the jumps and technical difficulties is unbelievable.” 

John Giordano, music director and conductor of Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra who was jury chairman for the Cliburn competition, said in 2010, "“He’s amazing. ...  Nobu played the most difficult hour-long Beethoven piece (Hammerklavier, Sonata no. 29) flawlessly. For anyone, it’s extraordinary. But for someone blind who learns by ear, it’s mind-boggling

For this round, the competitors were also  required to compete in performing a new piano work.  Tsujii was the only one who chose to play John Musto’s Improvisation & Fugue, considered the most challenging (see this article) and as it turned out, is the winner of that award (worth $5000)  as well. 

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