Notable web postings - April 2016
Continued from Notable web postings - March 2016
Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival
♪ "Touching the Sound -- the Improbable Journey of Nobuyuki Tsujii" to screen at the Gilmore film festival in the U.S.
Mr. Peter Rosen tweeted about a screening of the Nobu documentary "Touching the sound" at an Gilmore film festival in the U.S.
Wednesday, May 4 12:00 PM
Stryker Theater, Kalamazoo
April 29
NHK NEWSWEB
宮崎国際音楽祭が開幕 Miyazaki International Festival opens
http://www3.nhk.or.jp/lnews/miyazaki/5064469121.html
宮崎国際音楽祭」は、世界的な音楽家を招き、１７日間にわたって県内でさまざまなコンサートを開くもので、県などが主催しことしで２１回目を迎えました。
...
来月７日には若手ピアニストの辻井伸行さんが参加するクラシックのコンサートも開かれる予定で、音楽祭は来月１５日まで続きます。
The Miyazaki International Music Festival,featuring leading global musician in a variety of concerts. opened in the prefecture for 17 days, celebrating the 21st edition of the organization of the festival.
...
On schedule is young pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, who will participate on the 7th of next month; the music festival will continue until May 15.
A longer article was also posted
http://www.the-miyanichi.co.jp/shasetsu/_18891.html
April 27
Minnesota Beethoven Festival single tickets now on sale
The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra with pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii June 25
Nobu returned home safely
A blogger wrote that he was on the same flight as Nobu from Frankfurt to Japan's Haneda Airport. He wrote that Nobu spoke of his concerts in Russia and Germany, that their mothers were born in the same year and go to the same beauty salon. "I feel a strange connection ... happy to run into you for the first time after a long time ... somehow my fatigue was blown away." So, Nobu is back home!
假屋崎省吾のブログ blog of floral designer 假屋崎省吾 Kariya Sakishōgo
「辻井伸行さんと一緒のフライトで‼️｣ "On the same flight with Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii!"
http://ameblo.jp/kariyazakishogo/entry-12154531947.html
2016-04-27
ただいま～～っ！！
先ほどやっと帰ってきました！！
直航便でなくてオランダの
スキポール空港からフランクフルト、
そしてANAで羽田空港に着きました
I'm finally home ~ ~! !
I did not fly on a direct flight from the Netherlands
But from Frankfurt's Schiphol Airport I arrived at Haneda Airport via the ANA [All Nippon Airlines, one of the best]
なんとフランクフルトからあの
天才ピアニストの辻井伸行さんと
偶然ですが一緒でした
And at Frankfurt I happened to run into genius pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii
お聞きすると今回も演奏旅行で
ロシアやドイツなど何カ所もで
コンサートをなさっていらした
そうですルンルン
He has been performing in places such as Russia and Germany
and seemed to be euphoric after making concerts.
画像はネットからお借りしました
辻井伸行さんとはデビューのころから
応援させていただいていますラブラブ
お母様とも年齢が一緒で
しかも内緒ですが、
美容院も同じところに行ってる
ので不思議なご縁を感じます！！
辻井伸行さん、どうぞお疲れの
でませんように
The photo [posted] was borrowed from the net.
From the time of the debut of Nobuyuki Tsujii,
I cheered and loved him.
His mother is of the same age of mine, and -- it is a secret -- but they go to the same beauty salons.
辻井伸行さん、どうぞお疲れの
でませんように!!
御活躍くださいね
皆様も何か思い出にのこる
ピアノにまつわるお話はありますか
久しぶりにお目にかかれて幸せな
気分になれて
旅の疲れも吹っ飛んで何だか
ホワンとした気持ちになれました
さて気持ちを切り替えて
これからは仕事、仕事
やらなくちゃね!!
ではでは皆様、また～～っ
Mr. Tsujii travels tirelessly!!
I wish him great success
...
Happy to meet you for the first time in a long time
Somehow I was blown away even though I was fatigued from traveling
...
We heard from Liverpool about the 2nd performance!
Sam Fisher tweeted:
"Nobuyuki Tsujii played Beethoven's 5th Piano Concerto flawlessly tonight! THEN HE PLAYED LA CAMPANELLA FOR HIS ENCORE"
A big thanks to Robin Bloxsidge, a supporter of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, for sharing this with us on the Nobuyuki Tsujii fans facebook page:
"The concert was very enjoyable and Nobu's performance was outstanding as expected! One of the doormen told us that some members of the audience told him that Nobu had made Beethoven fresh and alive for them again. "
♪ April 21 at end of the day, 9 PM U.S. time
The first of Nobu's "Emperor" performance in Liverpool is long over. We have not yet heard anything about the concert. Meanwhile, here is perhaps one reason why Nobu's Wigmore Hall recital received no critic's review: Another Asian pianist, Yundi (Li), happens to be touring U.K. just now, and he performed an All-Chopin recital (the 4 ballades plus all the preludes) at the Royal Festival Hall yesterday-- that recital received reviews from both the Guardian and the Telegraph.
That sound you heard is me pulling out my hairs. Seriously, I often think that Nobu would have received better attention outside Japan if he had not come up at a time when economically Japan is overshadowed by China. (And I am of Chinese descent.)
♪ April 21 at end of the day, 10 PM U.S. time
I just heard from Mr. Asano, Nobu's manager, about the first performance in Liverpool: "Greetings from sunny Liverpool. Nobu met very warm welcome from Orchestra at 1st rehearsal, and 1st concert went very well ... The concert hall was pretty well filled, and Nobu met enthusiastic reaction from (the audience)." Isn't that nice? But I had to tell him that it is the next performance (on Friday) where he might see lots of empty seats. The photo shown below is from a rehearsal the last time in 2014 when Nobu was in Liverpool. We might see a similar photo this time posted on Nobu's own site, in due time.
♪ Nobu performs "Emperor" in Liverpool on April 21 and 22
to perform Beethoven's "Emperor" with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (RLPO) and conductor Darrell Ang.
Thursday 21 April 2016 7:30 pm
♪ TODAY April 16 is Nobu's debut U.K. recital at London's Wigmore Hall
Nobu's Wigmore Hall recital is over. It was flawless to my ears. The etudes & ballades #1 & #4 shook my soul. Packed house. Great applause. 3 encores.
"Such a beautiful recital #NobuyukiTsujii @wigmore_hall I felt so many 'colours' in his music. His performance makes me forget he can't see." -tweet
Please see photo album here and/or an eye witness report here => Nobuyuki Tsujii in London, April 2016
♪ I have just been told about an interview of Mr. Nick Asano, Nobu's manager, that appeared in a Japanese U.K. publication. In the interview, Mr. Asano explains the goals of Avex Classics International, which includes organizing U.K. performances by Japanese artists and film screening with live orchestra.
This very curious article was posted today and is purported to be a review of the performances at the Birmingham Piano Festival held this week at the University of Birmingham, U.K. I would not have noticed it except that Nobu is mentioned, as if he has appeared in a performance!
...
The BBC Philharmonic
Versatility and nuance are the key elements of nay performance by the BBC Philharmonic, a group who are synonymous with unfaltering levels of professionalism. This evening was no exception. The grand Romantic opening, rang with clear power, precision, and panache.
BBC Phil conductor Juanjo Mena anchored the orchestra with melodic flourishes that added to the sheer brilliance of Nobuyuki Tsujii. The resident grand pianist works in perfect tandem in renditions of Sibelius’ works and the earthier Chopin’s Revolutionary Etude. The significance of Tsuji’s virtuosity is that, blind since birth, his ability to play by ear only adds a sense of drama to the excellent strings which accompany every number.
Segueing swiftly through popular tracks such as ‘Adagio for Strings’ to ‘Mavis in Las Vegas’ to the subtler Caroline Mathilde inspired works of recent years lends a contemporaneous edge to the concert. A high point of the evening would have to be ‘Bruckner’s Third Mass’ which in its grandiose, spacious quality was particularly resonant as a solid choral undercurrent lent this highly visited work a sense of modern verve, albeit with classical history expressed well. A commanding and sonically committed performance from industry stalwarts. A supremely relaxing evening of music.
Review by James Hill
Published
9th April 2016 at 9:27 am
First of all, the BBC Phil performance at the festival is NOT happening until April 11. Second, the conductor is NOT Juanjo Mena and the pianist surely is not Nobu (I would have heard!) This is an example of the chicanery that seems to be rampant in the classical music business. I have long suspected that some "reviews" are bogus, and this is a fine example.
It does make me wonder why Nobu is not performing at this festival, given that he will be in London soon. (I've heard from Nobu's manager: Nobu is still in Japan; he has "not had any contact from this festival.")
Image via Internet link
April 7
山口秀樹 @yamaguchihi0204 20m20 minutes ago [Vice Mayor of Hino-cho, Yamaguchi] tweeted
こだわりのオーディオで聴くレコード鑑賞会が文化センターで始まりました。音声(おっとせい)の会の皆さんが昼休みにセットしてくれました。辻井伸行の弾くドビュッシーの後は中森明菜のカバーで恋と選曲もなかなか。昼のいいひと時を過ごしました。
At the cultural center we convened in appreciation of our audio achievements.
... Nouyuki Tsujii played Debussy and singer Akina Nakamori sang love songs during lunch break ...
We spent a day of good moments.
April 6
http://www.123kobe.com/2016/04/osaka-3/
[travel agency blog post about a tour for four visually-impaired person to be at Nobu's Osaka performance on the Chopin recital tour.
辻井伸行氏コンサートホテルランチ付ツアー
Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii concert hotel tour with lunch
ホーム > しゃらく旅倶楽部旅行記 > 辻井伸行氏コンサートホテルランチ付ツアー
しゃらくで初めて、視覚障がい者の方向けの旅行に行ってきました。
視覚障がい者の方は、4名のご参加。うち2名の方は、なんと浜松からのご参加でした。
大阪城が一望できるレストランでのお食事では、お話を楽しみながら休日のひと時を過ごされていました。
食事を楽しんだ後は、今回の旅のメインイベント「辻井伸行 日本ツアー《ショパン・リサイタル》」鑑賞のため、一路、ザ・シンフォニーホールへ。
曲の構成は、アンコール以外はすべてショパン。しかもピアノだけでの演奏。
ピアノだけで、人の心を引きつける力には、ただただ感動を覚えました。
ご参加の皆様も、日本を代表するピアニストの演奏に終始、聴き入っておられ、コンサート終了後には感嘆の声をあげておられました。
ご自宅までお送りする際には、「今日は楽しかった！」とのお言葉をいただき、私たちスタッフもとても嬉しい気持ちになりました。
今後も視覚障がい者の方に向けて、旅行を企画していこうと思えた1日でした。
April 1
This looks great! "The Emperor", featuring blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii at @liverpoolphil - http://www.liverpoolphil.com/16784/events-classical-music/emperor.html
https://lunaspace.wordpress.com/2016/04/01/another-short-masterpiece-from-studio-ghibli/
Another (short) Masterpiece from Studio Ghibli
As a long time fan of scroll books and Studio Ghibli, I am expectedly taken in by their latest short inspired by a 12th century manga called Chōjū-Jinbutsu-Giga Emaki, or Scrolls of Cartoons of Birds, Animals, and People. It is one of the first shorts produced for Marubeni Power . The full short will air on April 1st, 2016. In the meantime enjoy 30 seconds of beauty.
[link to YouTube video of the short]
The short was directed by Katsuya Kondo, character designer and animation director on Kiki’s Delivery Service and Ponyo, and producer Toshio Suzuki was the voice speaking the company name at the end. The background music is by acclaimed pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii and the tagline reads “There is a Japan I want to leave behind for future generations.”
Chōjū Giga, which depicted life as it was eight centuries ago through anthropomorphic animals, is recognized as one of the oldest known manga in the world. The emakimono, or handpainted, scrolls from which it originated are considered national treasures and can be found in the Tokyo and Kyoto National Museums.
Studio Ghibli co-founder Isao Takahata is a noted fan, alongside Hayao Miyazaki, and has written a book on emaki scrolls as well as drawing inspiration from them in making The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. Scholars continue to debate whether this or the Shigisan-Engi- emaki can be considered the first manga published.
Continued from Notable web postings - March 2016
Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival