Notable web posting October 2019
Continued from Notable web postings - September 2019
Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival
Nobuyuki Tsujii: chamber music in Japan October 2019
October 4 - 6 Ark Classics Concerts at Suntory Hall
October 8,9 Karuizawa Chamber Music Festival
October 13, 14 Chamber music with Fumiaki Miura & friends at Yasugatake Kogen Lodge
October 23 Nobuyuki Tsujii plays BEETHOVEN with the NDR Oct 23 2019 Unser Beethoven -Festival, Hannover Congress Centrum,
October 27 & 28 Nobuyuki Tsujii, Kent Nagano & Hamburg Phil -- 2019 Elbphilharmonie, Großer Saal, Hamburg, Germany
♪ October 22 "HAPPY BIRTHDAY, LISZT!"
Franz Liszt was born on Oct 22, 1811.
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/p/B37sGAXh9h3/
"LISZT: Liebestod from Tristan & Isolde ( Wagner ) pianist: Nobuyuki tsujii. HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRANZ LISZT 💜"
Click link to play a full clip (or on YouTube).
It is good to know that someone else shares my fondness for this performance of Nobuyuki Tsujii.
I will just say that it is vastly superior to hear him play this live.
In my humble opinion, Nobu is a great interpreter of Liszt, making his often bombastic music enjoyable to me!
So, I get to hear him play Liszt's piano concerto VERY SOON!
♪ October 22 Emperor enthronement and "Emperor" concerto
本日は、即位礼正殿の儀
《天皇陛下が、即位を公に宣言する儀式 》厳かに粛々と。
そして明日23日
辻井伸行ドイツ・ハノーファーにて《皇帝》を演奏
ベートーヴェン
『ピアノ協奏曲第5番《皇帝》』
"Today Tuesday Oct 22 in Japan Emperor Naruhito ascends the throne in a formal ceremony. Tomorrow Oct 23 in Germany, Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井伸行 performs Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto."
With a clip of Nobu playing the concerto in Boston, 2015 -- see here
Best wishes to Japan and to their new emperor. May peace and goodness prevail on earth!
♪ October17 Japan Times article
Not long ago I wrote (when news came that Nobu will be performing at the upcoming Emperor Enthronement ceremony) that I had yet to see an article on Nobuyuki Tsujii published by The Japan Times, which I read daily. Voila, a great piece appeared today: "Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii sets the bar high with new concert series" by Chiho Iuchi https://www.japantimes.co.jp/…/pianist-nobuyuki-tsujii-se…/… . It covers Nobu's background, his friendship with Fumiaki Miura, & his upcoming concerts. Succinct, factual and thoughtful. Bravos!
Below are some excerpts from the article, please read it in full at : Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii sets the bar high with new concert series
Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii sets the bar high with new concert series
...As pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii appears on stage at Tokyo’s Suntory Hall, hand in hand with violinist Fumiaki Miura, the capacity audience that flocked to the Oct. 5 matinee gives a warm shower of applause in anticipation of the duo’s performance.
...In addition to solo recitals, including his first performance at New York’s Carnegie Hall in 2011, and concerts with numerous orchestras, such as the BBC Philharmonic at the BBC Proms in 2013, Tsujii has explored the joy of more intimate chamber music in recent years, “thanks to the collaboration with Miura.”
...“I think that we have common musical directions and ideas,” Tsujii says. “Of course, we discuss important points in words, but we prefer having conversations with our sounds. When Miura plays his part in a certain way, I respond by performing my part. Such musical dialogue changes from the rehearsals through the show and gets better each time.”
...As the performance finishes, Tsujii and Miura bow deeply, with their arms around each other.
... Marking 10 years since winning his Van Cliburn gold medal, Tsujii has become more sought after at home and overseas.
... From the end of October through early November, he will collaborate with the Hamburg Philharmonic State Orchestra, conducted by Kent Nagano, on its tour of Japan.
“I’ll take on the challenge to master a new piece,” Tsujii says. In collaboration with the orchestra, he will play Franz Listz’s Piano Concerto No. 1 for the first time. Since childhood, Tsujii has learned new works by ear. He listens to recordings and practices until “the piece is perfectly in my body.”
“It’s a lot of fun,” he says. “I love playing the piano.”...
The complete article is at : Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii sets the bar high with new concert series
♪ October 12 (Oct 13 2PM Japan time) " deadly floods and landslides"
Reports are coming in that the typhoon in Japan has wreaked havoc with flooding.
This BBC post posted 30 minutes ago has good information
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50020108
Typhoon Hagibis: Japan suffers deadly floods and landslides from storm
and it explains the cancellation of today (Sunday Oct 13) concert of Nobuyuki Tsujii & friends, in Nagano.
One photo shows that Tokyo & Nagano were direct hits
and another photo shows bullet trains in Nagano half submerged in water.
Nobu & friends are probably safe but bummed out. There is no word as yet on the status of Monday's concert.
♪ October 12 (Oct 13 2AM Japan time)
Sadly, it seems the concert in Nagano today (Sunday Oct 13) Of Nobuyuki Tsujii, Fumiaki Miura & friends has to be cancelled due to the impact of the typhoon that struck Japan.
https://www.yatsugatake.co.jp/event/concert/2019/1013/
10月13日（日） メインコンサート公演中止のご案内
公演開催を発表しておりました、10月13日（日）メインコンサート「辻井伸行・三浦文彰＆フレンズ」は、台風19号による予想を上回る災害が発生している状況を受けまして、 公演中止を決定いたしました。
ご入金いただきましたチケット代金につきましては、 後日ご指定の口座にご返金させていただきます。
お客さまへはご迷惑をおかけしますこと、心よりお詫び申し上げます。
Sunday, October 13 Information on cancellation of main concert performance
The main concert “Nobuyuki Tujiii, Fumiaki Miura & Friends” on October 13 (Sun), which was announced to be held. Has been cancelled.
In response to a situation where disasters casued by Typhoon No. 19 exceeded expectations, we decided to cancel the performance.
The ticket price will be refunded to each specified account at a later date.
We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers.
This is a long holiday weekend in Japan, and the Japanese do not take event cancellations lightly. The damage of the typhoon must be severe.
This is truly unfortunate. We wish everyone well.
♪ October 13 News from Japan
News of the havoc wreaked by the typhoon is coming in slowly, which sadly usually means there is chaos.
This BBC news post comes with photos:
In pictures: "Typhoon Hagibis brings strong winds, rain to Japan"
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-50026451
One of the photos shows the Sumida River in Tokyo overflowing. This is the river which inspires Nobuyuki Tsujii to write "Whisper of the River," after he took a walk with his father there in his high school days.
♪ October 10 (October 11 in Japan)
Japan is bracing for Typhoon Hagibis, which is expected to strike soon. Tokyo is in harm's way, and World Cup Rugby games have had to cancel as a result.
It is not clear if Nobuyuki Tsujii and his friends are in Nagano or Tokyo. In any case, their next performance in Yatsugatake is not until Sunday afternoon, and hopefully will not be affected.
Best wishes to everyone -- safety first.
Image source: NHK World
♪ October 13 Rebroadcast of 'Nobuyuki Tsujii in Iceland' documentary, uncut and high-resolution,
Reminder:The 2018 Nobuyuki Tsujii 辻井伸行 in Iceland documentary will be rebroadcast on BS-Fuji TV in Japan on Sunday Oct 13 21:00 - 23:25, an uncut version (2 hours & 25 minutes) in high (4K) resolution.
This is a terrific documentary, with scenes of Nobu being welcome by a men's choir, interacting and performing with Vladimir Ashkenazy & the Icelandic Symphony Orchestra, enjoying traditional musical instruments; and footage of Icelandic landscape.
BS-Fuji TV Program description => http://www.bsfuji.tv/tsujii/pub/008.html
My blog post => "Nobuyuki Tsujii in Iceland" expanded version
The program can be watched online, at a fee => https://japannettv.com/wpshop/index.php/japan-tv-basic/
♪ October 10 One more week to enjoy Liverpool concert
We have Chie on Facebook to thank for reminding us that there is only one week left to enjoy the Sept 19 concert of Nobuyuki Tsujii with maestro Vasily Petrenko & the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic
watch here => https://www.facebook.com/LiverpoolPhilharmonic/videos/2443675479012565/
Listen here https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m0008jk8
We thank the orchestra & BBC Radio 3 for the great indulgence!
♪ 2014 "Style Norway" magazine interview
In 2014, a Japanese article about Nobuyuki Tsujii was published in Japan's "Style Norway" magazine, in advance of the first-ever Japan tour of Nobuyuki Tsujii with Vasily Petrenko & Royal Liverpool Philharmonic in January 2015. The editor-in-chief of that magazine is Mr. Yuji Hori 堀裕二, who happens to be the photographer who has produced countless portrait photos of Nobu that we have enjoyed through the years, including those seen on CD albums and concert programs. Two of Nobu's best photos accompany the article.
In the interview, Nobu is asked about Edvard Grieg and traveling, etc. "I would love to travel to Norway," said Nobu, who had never been to the Scandinavia at the time [and I think he still has not.]
When I came upon the article back in 2014, I was not proficient in using Google translate, and did not grasp the significance to make a full translation of the article. I was reminded of it the other day by an Instagram user, who provided a link. I looked it up and realized what a splendid article this was, and since Nobu and mo. Petrenko will be performing in Norway next January, it seems appropriate to publish this post now. Please read an English translation, if you like, at Nobuyuki Tsujii 2014 interview, "Style Norway" magazine
♪ October 4 - 6 Ark Classics Concerts at Suntory Hall
Last year, Nobuyuki Tsujii , Fumiaki Miura🎻& friends were a big success at the Suntory Hall 2018 Ark Classics Concerts👍👏
They are at it again this weekend Oct 4-6.
Performance details, in Japanese & English, can be found at a brochure published by Suntory Hall.
Information, photos and comments related to Nobu's performances can be found at Nobuyuki Tsujii at 2019 Ark Classics Concerts
October 4
There was no advance notice that I am aware of, but Nobuyuki Tsujii & buddy Fumiaki Miura appeared on a TV show yesterday in Japan, speaking about their friendship and performing "Sanada Maru".
A big thanks to Yuki, who apparently caught the show and shared on Twitter screen grabs that show the duo in performance in the studio, at a rehearsal with a chamber music group, and making pottery together (at separate wheels).
I suspect the show was aired to promote the Ark Classics concerts, but nothing was mentioned about it on Nobu's site.
♪ October 3 Back to work ...
This tweet was posted around midnight
https://twitter.com/riezo9999/status/1179830191159250944
今日はサントリーホールに某社の記念のガラコンサートを見に行きました。一曲だけだけど辻井伸行氏が❗️
とプログラム時点で興奮していたけど、やっぱり最高でした❗️
氏のチケットは取れる気がしない…でももっと聞きたいなあ
Today, I went to Suntory Hall to attend a commemorative gala concert for a certain company. Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii played one song!
I was excited at the time of the program, it was really the best!
I don't feel like buying a ticket ... But I want to hear more
So it seems Nobu was back to work (kind of) yesterday October 3. Suntory Hall schedule shows a "private concert" on October 3.
♪ Sept 30 "There are few pianists who can earn that much."
On this quiet day, I came upon an interesting Japanese article that includes a speculation on how much Nobuyuki Tsujii earns annually. .
ピアニストの年収はどのくらい？ What is the annual income of a pianist?
[excerpt, translated from Japanese]It is difficult to identify a pianist's annual income. Because professional pianists often don't share what they are paid for their performances, and we can only speculate.In the case of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii, the one time pay is speciulated to be 3 million yen (this is just a guess), and as Mr. Tsujii seems to perform roughly 70 times a year, so simple calculation points to an earning of a little over 200 million yen (~2 million USD) a year.But he is one of the most famous pianists in the world, so there are few pianists who can earn that much.
I commend this [anonymous] writer for clearly stating that the figures are merely guesses. Based on my own observationl, the classic music business is extremely opaque, and the asking prices of a any performing artist -- not just pianists -- are hush-hush, not something that you will find through a simple web search.
More on my take on the subject here: "There are few pianists who can earn that much."
