Nobuyuki Tsujii in Fort Worth, Texas, 2013

Image posted on facebook page of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, shown here via Internet link.

"Tsujii delivered an exciting performance that brought the audience spontaneously to its feet. Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya was a sensitive and supportive musical partner and the FWSO played beautifully." -  "Theater Jones" review

"The first movement he did was so beautiful my heart almost burst! -comment on facebook page of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

"He proceeded to play so skillfully and musically, and I was in tears by the end. He was incredible! He even played an encore of “La Campanella” by Liszt. Just unbelievable. " - Feb. 3 blog post

The February 1, 2013 performance was broadcast on Texas radio.  Someone took the trouble of recording the broadcast and offering the tracks available for download - see here

February 1, 2, 3 Nobuyuki Tsujii returned to the stage of Bass Hall, Fort Worth, Texas, where in 2009  he received his Van Cliburn Competition gold medal.  He made three successful performances of  Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya. 

Feb 5

http://konucin.exblog.jp/19230040 <with photos, one of which is shown below via Internet link>

フォートワース交響楽団で辻井伸行君のチャイコフスキー

今 回の小旅行はテキサス州ダラスに出かけてきました。週末を利用してちょっと南部の暖かい所に出かけよう～と行き先を検討していたら、辻井伸行君がフォート ワース交響楽団にてチャイコフスキーのピアノ協奏曲一番を演奏、と見つけました。絶対に行きたい、と旅行先はダラスに決定。テキサス州フォートワースで開 催された2009年のヴァン・クライバーン国際ピアノコンクールで金賞に輝いた辻井君が久々に同じ会場に戻ってくるので、"Welcome back Nobu"と交響楽団のサイトにも書いてありました。会場には日本人の姿もチラホラ、辻井君の登場に、一部のお客さんはスタンディングに拍手で迎えて、と ても暖かい雰囲気でした。演奏はとっても力強く、第一楽章が終わった時点で大きな拍手にスタンディングオベーションまでありました。その後、第2、3楽章 も含めて、ダンナは「すごいね、感動だ」と感心してました。私もピアノ協奏曲を指揮者はどうやって合わせるのかな、とか初めて協奏曲を聴くときのように、 演奏を楽しみました。演奏終了後も指揮者に腕を取られ、何度も舞台に戻って挨拶され、アンコール演奏もしてくれました。休憩後はシューベルトの交響曲9番 でしたが、もう帰ってしまったお客さんもいて、辻井君の演奏を聞きに来た人がとっても多かったようです。

Tchaikovsky with Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii and Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra

I was on a trip to Dallas, Texas, and was looking for a trip a little south for warmer weather over the weekend, when I learned about Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii performing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. I made the decision in Dallas to go.

Mr. Tsujii won a gold medal at  the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2009, which was held in Fort Worth, Texas.  He was coing back to the same venue for the first time after many years.  The web site of the Symphony Orchestra says "Welcome back Nobu".

At the venue. there were figures of Japanese here and there.

The appearance of Mr. Tsujii was greeted by some audience with a standing ovation.  It was a very warm atmosphere.

The playing was very powerful, there was standing ovation and loud applause when the first movement was finished.

Then, after the second and third movements, my husband said, "Wow,  impressed".

It was my first time to listen to a concerto performed with a conductor.  I enjoyed it.

At the end of the performance, Mr. Tsujii was escorted on the arm of the conductor, and returned to stage to greet us many times.  He also gave us an encore. 

After the break it was Schubert's Symphony No. 9,  But it looked like many in the audience had gone home.  It seems there were very many people who came to listen to the playing of Mr. Tsujii.

Feb 4

◆A short recital report on the Fort Worth concert yesterday has been posted on the official website of Nobuyuki Tsujii, without photos:

13年2月3日（アメリカ）

フォートワース

3日連続のコンサート最終日は、スーパーボウルの日程と重なりましたが、ご家族連れなど今日もたくさんの方にお越し頂きました。

アンコールに演奏したのは、リストのラ・カンパネラです。

February 3, 2001 (USA)

Fort Worth

Last day for three consecutive days of concerts.  Although it coincided with the day of the Super Bowl, there were a lot of people that came today with families.

In the encore, Liszt's La Campanella was played.

◆Posted on the  facebook page of the Fort Worth Symphony:

"Tsujii delivered an exciting performance that brought the audience spontaneously to its feet. Music Director Miguel Harth-Bedoya was a sensitive and supportive musical partner and the FWSO played beautifully." <quoting from  a review that appeared in "Theater Jones" >

Thanks to all who came this weekend!

    Comments:

- Nobu's performance was truly amazing. Once of the best I've seen. Well done indeed FWSO.

- <Mine :->It is great that Fort Worth gave Nobu such a warm welcome back, and moving to see (in photos) the reunion of him with the FWSO under Maestro Harth-Bedoya. Bravo!! Best wishes to the 14th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition.

- Nobu gave an emotionally charged, powerful performance. I was truly moved.

 See full text of the review and comments posted with it, preserved here: Fort Worth 2013 Tchai 1 review

Feb 3

On this day, Nobu gave a third performance in Fort Worth. This being Superbowl Sunday in the U.S., not much has been heard.   But it must have been successful,  if this tweet that came up at 4PM Texas time  is any indication: "Just saw Nobuyuki Tsujii, Tchaikovsky's 1st Piano Concerto. #HappyTears. What was encore?  <After I tweeted to her to tell her that the encore was "La Campanella", she wrote> THANK YOU! I'm a Nobu fan now, too. Saw Van Cliburn video, but he's so perfect and charming live! All the best to you!

And this blog post by a male blogger confirms it:

http://globebeatnik.wordpress.com/2013/02/03/awesome-annoying-and-awkward/

posted on Sunday, February 3rd, 2013 at 11:15 pm (Texas time)

<Amusing paragraph about annoying people in audience omitted>

But it was all overshadowed by one of the performers and pieces we heard today.

The featured work was the Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Major. This is a piece that I remember falling in love with at a very young age. The 3rd movement is one of my all time favorite things to hear, and I specifically remember hearing my friend, Dmitrius, from Greece, playing it in a recital at the Moscow Conservatory when I lived in Russia. It also tends to wind up on my running playlists a lot. Needless to say, I was excited to hear it. After I shushed the ladies behind me, Miguel <conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya> brought out the pianist and we realized that he was holding his hand and placed it onto the piano. Wait a minute!! What is this?! Nobuyuki Tsujii, the gold medal winner of the Van Cliburn Piano Competition in 2009…is BLIND!! Really?!

He proceeded to play so skillfully and musically, and I was in tears by the end. He was incredible! He even played an encore of “La Campanella” by Liszt. Just unbelievable.

家族で辻井伸行さん＆フォートワースシンフォニーのコンサートに行ってきました☆ 年に数回の音楽鑑賞は非常に重要！心癒されるひと時でした。 I went with my family to a concert of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii with the Fort Worth Symphony ☆ It is very important to me to listen to music several times a year! It was a moment that healed my heart.  -tweet

Kudos to Nobu's staff for posting a quick recital report on the official website of Nobuyuki Tsujii, of last night's performance, with two photos, including one of this charming flower arrangement presented to him by the staff of the orchestra.  The  text of the report, with English translation, can be read below.

13年2月2日（アメリカ）フォートワース

2日目のコンサートもたくさんのお客様にお楽しみ頂いたようです。

アンコールに演奏したのはラフマニノフのプレリュード作品32の12でした。

オーケストラのスタッフの方々から、テキサス風の生け花（カウボーイブーツに植わってます）を頂きました。

February 2, 2001 (USA)

Fort Worth

The audience seemed to have a lot of fun at the concert on the second day.

The encore played was Rachmaninov's <Prelude in G sharp minor> Op. 32, No. 12

I received from  the staff of the orchestra a Texas-style flower arrangement ( in a cowboy boot).

<Editorial: yellow roses are special for Texas .>

Feb 2

The photo below is one of three photos posted on  the official website of Nobuyuki Tsujii, in a report about his first performance in Fort Worth on Feb. 1. According to the report, Nobu did play Tchaikovsky's "Troika" for the first encore. (The bag that Nobu carries in the photo has a logo of "apfelmann", popular in Europe -- a friend of Nobu is a distributor of such goods.)  

image via Internet link

The text of the report is copied below for archival, with English translation.

13年2月1日（アメリカ）

フォートワース

クライバーン・コンクールの会場となったバス・パフォーマンス・ホールに、2009年秋以来の登場。フォートワース交響楽団とはコンクール以来の再会で、プロとしてはデビューになります。

音楽監督のミゲル・ハルト＝ベドーヤさんとは初共演でしたが、

リハーサルもうまくゆき、

初日のコンサートはスタンディングオヴェーションを頂きました。（写真はリハーサル）

アンコールはチャイコフスキーのトロイカと、スティーヴン・フォスターの「金髪のジェニー」に基づく自作「ジェニーのオマージュ」です。

February 1, 2001 (USA)

Fort Worth

I returned to Bass performance Hall, the venue of the Cliburn Competition, for the first time since  fall of 2009. In reunion since the competition, I made my debut as a professional with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra.

My first performance with Musical Director Mr.Miguel Harth-Bedoya met with success; we got a standing ovation on the first day of the concerts. (Photo: rehearsal)

Encore is "Troika" of Tchaikovsky, and "Blond Jenny" based on a song ("Jeanie of Light Brown Hair) by Stephen Foster.

Feb 2

Bass Hall tweeted:

Two more chances to see @TheCliburn gold medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii this weekend w/ @FtWorthSymphony: http://bit.ly/11pluZM

Bass Hall posted the photo of Nobu waving at the audience on its facebook page its facebook page

Comments:

Blanca Flores Robison wrote: was there this evening ... he is AMAZING!

Dave Frick wroe:  Looking forward to tonight.

Posted on  the facebook page of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with link to  Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram 2/1 concert review

Olin Chism and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram have it right: Nobuyuki Tsujii gave a "bold interpretation [of Tchaikovsky's First Piano Concerto] filled with subtleties of tempo, dynamics and phrasing."

Join us tonight or tomorrow for the final two performances!

Posted on  the facebook page of Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with Photo of Nobu waving goodbye to the crowd

Nobuyuki Tsujii was incredible. What talent! Thanks to all who came last night - so glad you got to enjoy the concert. Who's coming tonight or tomorrow? Trust us, this concert is not to be missed.

Comments:

- The first movement he did was so beautiful my heart almost burst

- My husband and I will be there tomorrow. So excited!!!!

- It cannot be easy to get people to come to a classical music concert on a Superbowl weekend - but Nobu and the FSO is worth it!

- Great concert! If you weren't there Friday night, you need to go Saturday or Sunday.

- Sunday is the day!

- So looking forward to the performance tonight!

- And it sounds like the orchestra was outstanding as well. It was very generous of Maestro Harth-Bedoya to invite Nobu to play 2 encores - was the first one Tchaikovsky's "Troika"?

- I was there last night. My middle school students loved it.

- Friday night's concert was one of the very best! Nobu was magnificent!

- Sounds that Nobu's concert was very inspired,I am happy for everybody that were there.

- I (look)forward to listen His music (on) WRR Classical 101.1 FM,we can all use some delightful and therapeutic music.

Feb 1    He's done it again!

◆ And a review has already been published by Dallas Fort Worth Star Telegram: "Pianist offers bold and successful interpretation of Tchaikovsky's First at Bass Hall, DFW.com  "It was a bold interpretation filled with subtleties of tempo, dynamics and phrasing. " See full text preserved here: Fort Worth 2013 Tchai 1 review

◆Another review published in Dallas News http://dallasne.ws/VD9UVF  -- by Mr. Scott Cantrell, the "learned critic"  mentioned in the Cliburn documentary who did not like the performance of "La Campanella" of Nobuyuki Tsujii, remains unimpressed with Nobu. (Mr. Cantrell is one of the critics who, when Nobu was announced as a gold medal winner, opined that if the jury had been kept behind a curtain when judging, Nobu would not have won - insinuating  that Nobu was given the medal out of sympathy.)

... Tsujii was back in Bass Performance Hall Friday night, performing the Tchaikovsky First Piano Concerto with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. Again, the rock-solid technique and confidence impressed. But there was little of the expressive nuance that distinguishes a great performance from an accomplished one.

Too little happened between loud and soft. What should have been singing lines too often sounded like mere series of notes. Repetitive patterns always sounded the same...

See full text preserved here: Fort Worth 2013 Tchai 1 review

It is great that Nobu got the attention of the two major newspapers in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, and I don't think it's difficult to guess which of them I favor.    With all due respect, Mr. Cantrell is full of himself (as evidenced by the obscure musical terms that he sprouted in the article, to impress) and condescending (as in his unsolicited advice for Nobu to take lessons from an American music scholar).   Mr. Cantrell was not in favor of Nobu's gold medal, and, 3 years later, he is still trying to find flaws with Nobu's music instead of appreciating it.  He has no credibility to me.

◆This tweet, with the photo below, came up at about 10PM Texas time: "Blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii waves to the crowd as he walks off stage with Miguel Harth-Bedoya after two encores."  (The twitter is Rodger Mallison, a photographer for the Fort Worth Star Telegram)

photo shown via Internet link

Posted on  the Cliburn Foundation facebook page "Backstage with Nobu tonight: Cliburn Chairman Carla Thompson and Interim Executive Director Jacques Marquis!"

photo shown via Internet link

SIPA Press (French news outlet) posted an article with a couple photos of the performance: http://www.sipa.com/en/feature/2526232/texas-daily-life/page/1/SN/NEWS

• • Reference: AP21357166_000001

  • Date: 20130201

  • Headline: Texas Daily Life

  • Caption: 2009 Cliburn gold medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii performs Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor Opus 23, with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra under the direction of Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Friday, February 1, 2013 in the Bass Performance Hall, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Rodger Mallison) MAGS OUT; (FORT WORTH WEEKLY, 360 WEST); INTERNET OUT /TXFOR10/251693361423/MAGS OUT; (FORT WORTH WEEKLY, 360 WEST);

http://features.rr.com/photo/04OT0eWfsdeQe

with AP Photo http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/04OT0eWfsdeQe/350x.jpg (same as photo above right) and text:

2009 Cliburn gold medalist Nobuyuki Tsujii, left center, takes a bow with conductor Miguel Harth-Bedoya after performing Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto No. 1 in B-flat Minor Opus 23, with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, Friday, February 1, 2013 in the Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, Texas.

Tweets

Ayano Dennis  ‏@momo_malo tweeted

辻井伸行さ んのコンサートに行って来た。とても繊細な音。聴いていて心地良かった。次はショパンかラフマニノフを聴いてみたい。アンコールにご自身でアレンジしたと 思われるフォスターの曲。それ生きのサウンドトラックってあるのかな？ I went to a concert of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii. Very delicate sound. I was feeling good listening to him.   Next, I want to listen to Rachmaninoff or Chopin.  He played Foster's song with his own arrangement for encore. I wonder if there 's soundtrack live it?

I replied -

Yes - JENNY ENO HOMMAGE http://amzn.to/ULT2Ns  - also http://amzn.to/ULTfA5  @ Momo_malo アンコールにご自身でアレンジしたと思われるフォスターの曲。それ生きのサウンドトラックってあるのかな？

https://twitter.com/brominican/status/297570029921243137  Michael Bido ‏@brominican tweeted at 11 PM Texas time:

Nobuyuki Tsujii. Blind. Piano player. Flawless performance.

Will Hamberlin ‏@willforthrill

About to watch Nobuyuki Tsujii, the BLIND Van Cliburn winner.

Steinway Hall - Dallas | Fort Worth | Plano tweeted:

Nobuyuki Tsujii performs with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra tonight and tomorrow. Did you know the Steinway Model D Concert Grand that Nobu played when he won Cliburn Competition gold in 2009 is currently one of the Concert and Artist pianos available for hire through Steinway Hall Dallas/ Fort Worth/ Plano?

https://www.facebook.com/IndulgeDFW  Feb. 1 posting on facebook page of Fort Worth's  "Indulge Magazine"

Bass Hall has Nobu fever tonight! The 2009 Cliburn winner Nobuyuki Tsujii, who is blind, played the famous Tchaikovsky Piano concerto No. 1 with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra, the piece Van Cliburn himself is most associated with. It took about 1 second for the first standing ovation, followed by two encores and two more standing O's.

Feb 1

• Posted 11AM PST on the facebook page of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra https://www.facebook.com/fwsymphony?ref=ts&fref=ts, with photo below shown via Internet link.

  • • • Nobu!

        • • Nobuyuki Tsujii and the FWSO will perform Tchaikowsky's wildly-popular Piano Concerto this weekend! Also on the program: Variations on a Theme by Haydn by Brahms and Schubert's "Great" Symphony.

Jan 31 

Photo below is posted on the facebook page of the Cliburn Foundation and shown here via Internet link -

"Right now at Bass Hall: The Star-Telegram's Barry Shlachter interviews Nobu for a profile piece set to run in advance of the 2013 Competition. He's performing with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra this weekend!" 

YouTube video by the Fort Worth Orchestra to promote Nobu's performance:

http://bit.ly/VqOmJV