Notable web postings - April 2019

Continued from Notable web postings -- March 2019

Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival

♪ Upcoming Concerts

April 1 Nobuyuki Tsujii at the 2019 Rostropovich Festival in Moscow

April 12 & 13 Nobuyuki Tsujii & the Orpheus in Hong Kong

April 14 & 16 Nobuyuki Tsujii & the Orpheus in Taiwan

April 18-27 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Japan Tour

Congrats to Nobu & the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra on the successful conclusion of their Asia tour --

Nobuyuki Tsujii & Orpheus in Hong Kong & Taiwan, April 2019

April 18-27 Orpheus Chamber Orchestra Japan Tour

♪ April 29/30 Japan is poised for a new era of "Beautiful Harmony"

In Japan, Nobu's homeland, today is the final day of the Heisei period under the reign of Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko.

Tomorrow May 1 marks the start of the new Imperial era "Reiwa" 令和 under the reign of Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako (U.K. Guardian photo, below).

Our  best wishes to Japan on a new period of peace and harmony.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have shown kindness to Nobu.

On May 24 2018, at a special screening of the Japanese film "Forest of Wool and Steel (for which Nobu plays the theme music)," the Emperor and Empress of Japan shook hands with Nobu, as seen in the photo and video clip .

The Imperial Couple 皇室のカップル also graced Nobu's 2017 Debut 10 Years Concert at Suntory Hall

♪ April 30

Instagram from Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii, proud mother of Nobu

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bw32K_0l6-8/

昨日の読売新聞に掲載されてました！

昭和63年生まれの伸行ですが平成と共に成長しヴァンクライバーンピアノ

コンクールで優勝でき感慨深い想いです🥇

平成もあと6時間45分となりました。

#読売新聞

"The 300 faces of the Heise Era, published in the Yomiuri Shimbun [major newspaper in Japan] yesterday! "

🥂 Nobu's photo is at the next-to-bottom row.

Okay, but I also see a tanuki (狸 , racoon dog) and Roger Federer in the mix. 😃

UPDATE: I have been informed by Twitter sunsoon that "it's not a racoon dog that is among the "300 faces of Heisei", but a lesser panda 「風太くん」"Mr. Futa" , "a male red panda (Ailurus fulgens) in the zoo of Chiba, Japan. In 2005, he became a visitor attraction and a television celebrity in Japan for his ability to stand upright on his hind feet for about ten seconds at a time." ^_^ Photo source: Yahoo Japan.

♪ Happy Special Golden Week in Japan - Saturday April 27 through Monday May 6.

The Golden Week, a week-long public holiday, is always special in Japan.  "The Golden Week is a series of four national holidays that take place within one week at the end of April to the beginning of May each year. It is often considered a time of vacation for the Japanese people, and many people receive time off from their secular employment on these bank holidays."

But this year, it is made even more special. 

In addition to the usual  holidays during this week,  this year May 1 is designated as a national holiday to celebrate the enthronement of  the new Emperor Akishino. 

As a result, this year's golden week is 10-days in duration Saturday April 27 through Monday May 6.

It is a time when sightseeing is at its peak throughout Japan, and public transports are expected to be jam-packed.

Image source: Japan Today article (The photo shows lines of colorful paper fish strung across a scenic  river/canal.)

♪ April 24 "Nobuyuki Tsujii has small hands" -- NOT!

In "Nobuyuki Tsujii at the Southbank Centre, London, review: An extraordinary performance by any standards", long-time writer Michael Church of the U.K. Independent wrote:

"Tsujii’s hands are small, but he managed the giant fistfuls of notes with nonchalant ease, whipping up the audience into a frenzy of excitement."

I have shaken Nobu's hands many times. But, not knowing about other pianist's hands, I could not opine on whether Nobus hands are small compared to others. I did think (as perhaps did Mr. Church) that, as an Asian, Nobu's hands are smaller than say European hands.

Today, I came upon a tweet posted by musician pianist 瀬川玄 Gen Sagawa, with data that shows Nobu's hand stretch is actually greater than that of Ashkenazy, Barenboim and Horowitz ^_^

Story: "Nobuyuki Tsujii has small hands" -- NOT!

Image:  a photo of Nobu's hands on the keyboard, posted in 2013 by the BBC Philharmonics

♪ April 23 Another cheap dig on Nobu

In a review on Víkingur Ólafsson's recital in Los Angeles, writer Mark Swed of the Los Angeles Times could not refrain from landing a jab on Nobu substituting for Murray Perahia at Carnegie Hall: "Carnegie went commercial with Nobuyuki Tsujii."

😡Commercial? Does this man have any idea how hard Nobu works? This, coming from a shameless cheerleader of a certain female pianist who sullies classical music wearing indecent costume on stage.More at Another cheap dig on Nobu

♪ A new CD with Fumiaki Miura

It's been a long time coming, but we are getting a new Nobu CD of recordings of his duo performances with Fumiaki Miura of Franck sonata's and Brahhms's Violin Sonata No. 1. Release date June 26.

『フランク:ヴァイオリン・ソナタ/ブラームス:ヴァイオリン・ソナタ 第1番 三浦文彰(ヴァイオリン)、辻井伸行(ピアノ)』／CD

https://books.rakuten.co.jp/rb/15889744/

AVCL-25991

発売日： 2019年06月26日

♪April 16 The Goodness of Humanity

Comment posted to YouTube Video Nobuyuki Tsujii in Iceland 2 -- "Summer time" with Symphony musicians

"It seems like an angel is playing the piano... So beautiful! A big thanks from France!"

I bow my head to this comment, which came just now, in the wake of the fire that devastated the Nortre Dame Cathedral.

The cathedral, like Nobu, to me represents the goodness of humanity.

I am sad for the destruction, comforted by what was saved, and happy that so many people -- all over the world -- understand and care about these true treasures.

♪ April 15 "A meeting without seeing, but full of laughter and music"

On his day off April 15 in Taiwan,, Nobu met with students at a school for the blind in Taichung.

He played on the piano, including accompanying a visually-impaired student violinist (seen in a video clip, below - - sorry if it doesn't work on your device, please watch it at https://udn.com/news/story/7270/3756529); and answered questions.

Nobu, dressed in a blue shirt and light grey suit, looks relaxed and happy.

Great photos and a video clip.

Original article in Chinese at https://udn.com/news/story/7270/3756529

English translation => Nobuyuki Tsujii visits School for the Blind in Taichung, April 15 2019

♪April 17 The 2019 BBC Proms Program-- no Nobu :-(

The 2019 BBC Proms program was announced yesterday.

On the roster are some of the usual suspects, but, alas, once again, no Nobu.

I do take comfort in that Yeol Eum Son 손열음 will appear in Prom 7. Ms. Son is the superb Korean pianist who won silver medal at the 2011 Tchaikovsky Competition as well as The Cliburn Competition in 2009, at which she went out of her way to befriend Nobu. Best wishes to Ms. Son!

♪ April 12 More photos from dining at restaurant of Chef Masahiko Miyamoto (宮本雅彦)

You may recall a while back an instagram by Masahiko Miyamoto (Iron Chef) raving about Nobu and mother Itsuko dining at his restaurant?

Today Mrs. Tsujii posted an instagram with a photo album from the event, including mouth-watering dishes that they were treated to, and two photos showing Nobu.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwLH3cKFGDf/

久しぶりのディナーは伸行が子供の頃から伺ってるフレンチのトレフミヤモトへ🍾桜🌸の花の砂糖漬けを入れたシャンパンで乾杯。こちらの名物

ファグラのコロッケは絶品です！

最後の写真は宮本シェフとマダムと🍷

#トレフミヤモト

"After a long time, Nobuyuki and I went to dinner at  French chef Miyamoto's, whom we have known since he was crawling.  We toasted with champagne and  candied cherry blossoms. His specialty  Foie gras croquettes are exquisite!  Chef and Madame Miyamoto are seen in the last photo."

Said photo is shown below, with Nobu and the Chef in front, and Mrs. Miyamoto & Mrs. Tsujii in the background.

Nobu, in black shirt and light-grey slacks,  his hair modishly-styled ^_^ and his body-builder chest, looks red-hot !!!

♪ April 8 "Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii of the world came to my restaurant"

トレフミヤモトMasahiko Miyamoto (Iron Chef) Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_uVvvgqaN/

"世界の辻井伸行さんご来店. アメリカから帰ったばかり、疲れててただろうに、自称親戚のおじさんは超嬉しいですよ"

[Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii of the world, after a tiring trip to America, graced the restaurant and made his self-proclaimed uncle very happy .]

The renowned chef had visited Nobu backstage before, and is apparently a Nobu fan.

In the photo, the chef is seen in his restaurant with Nobu and his mother Itsuko. Nobu is in a black shirt and looks very ... masculine ^_^

♪ April 5 "Emperor" concerto on Oct 23 in Hanover, Germany

Just announced: Our busy boy Nobu will perform BEETHOVEN's "Emperor" concerto on Oct 23 at a Beethoven Festival of the NDR Radiophilharmonie, in Hanover, Germany, with conductor Andrew Manze . This performance comes just before Nobu's debut on Oct 27/28 with the Philharmonisches Staatsorchester Hamburg and conductor Kent Nagano in Hamburg.

According to the announcement NDR Radiophilharmonic presents new program

(Translated from German) 2020 is the year of Ludwig van Beethoven. In the eyes of Andrew Manze, the music of Beethoven by NDR Radio Philharmonic is particularly good, "It is a genune Beethoven orchestra". The orchestra therefore celebrates its 250th anniversary with its own Beethoven Festival , in which all symphonies and piano concertos will be be heard. Between October 20 and November 10, 2019, the orchestra will present these works under the direction of Chief Conductor Andrew Manze, featuring five top pianists: Pierre-Laurent Aimard , Martin Helmchen , Martin Stadtfeld , Nobuyuki Tsujii and Lars Vogt . The celebrations will take place in January 2020 as part of the ARD Week "

And that is not all, on a linked page for the Beethoven-Festival in Kuppel Hall ,

The pianists of the piano concertos - Nobuyuki Tsujii, Martin Stadtfeld, Pierre-Laurent Aimard, Lars Vogt and Martin Helmchen - Everybody will be invited to a special event in the Leibniz Saal from 18.45 to 19.15 before their performances: a free-form piano recital, designed according to each's own taste. Let yourself be surprised!

♪April 8 Announced: May 9 2020 Birmingham, U.K. recital

Announcement: Nobu is holding a recital in Birmingham, U.K., Sat 9 May 2020 7:00pm Town Hall.

The program is same as for his Jan 14 Paris recital: Schubert Impromptu Op 90 1-4; Scriabiin Sonata for Piano No. 5 Op 53; Chopin Ballade No. 1-4.

Tickets can already be purchased.

Birmingham is home of the City of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, currently under the direction of acclaimed Conductor Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla. Let's hope Nobu will also get to perform with the orchestra while there.

♪ April 8 Nobuyuk Tsujii Cliburn Competition 10 Year Anniversary Album

News came today that Avex Classics will release a 2 disc album to commemorate Nobu's Cliburn Competition 10th Anniversary Concerts.

Disc 1 contains solo pieces. Disc 2 contains movements of various concertos. The base prices is ¥ 2,000.  The tracks are previously-recorded for existing albums.

Details in English at Nobuyuk Tsujii Cliburn Competition 10 Year Anniversary Album

♪ Kapustin's 8 Concert Etude no. 1 -- 565,598 views

The YouTube video of Nobu playing Prelude from Eight Concert Études, Op 40 by Nikolai Kapustin has had an astonishing 565,598 views

The view count has already surpassed another YouTube video (560,077 views) of a 17-year old Nobu playing etude no. 2 ('Dream') from Kapustin's

Eight Concert Études, which I love even more than the one above (uploaded by me).

By the way, just last Sunday I heard the Kapustin prelude played on the U.S. National Public Radio Program 'From the Top', by young pianist Angeline Ma

-- that episode (show 359) of the program can be heard here => https://www.fromthetop.org/show/nprs-from-the-top-kennett-square-pa-show-359/The Kapustin is heard  at the very end.

♪ April 9 Sarah Àlainn Instagram

Singer/performer Sarah Àlainn posted another instagram to thank Nobu for his guest appearance at her tour-closing concert, with more photos, including one of the two standing together, backstage before or after performance, she in a flowing white gown and he in his light-colored suit with dark shirt.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BwBx9ghlz5p/

Nobuyuki Tsujii made a surprise appearance and we performed 2 songs together🌟 Thank you dear Nobu! Safe trip!

サプライズゲストにスター🌟辻井伸行さんが駆け付けて下さいました☺️💫

夢のようなひと時に感謝と感動🙏

タンポポの歌🎹

Ave Maria🎹

#pianist #辻井伸行 #nobuyukitsujii #timelesstour #タンポポの歌 #金髪のジェニー #jeaniewiththelightbrownhair #avemaria

So it seems the two 'songs' performed by them were actually a rendition of Foster's 'Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair' (which somehow has acquired a Japanese name of 'The Dandelion Song') & Caccini (Vovilov)'s Ave Maria. Lots of people (including me) would love to have been there.

♪ Best photo yet of co-performance with Sarah Àlainn サラ・オレイン

Ms. Alainn graciously posted a tweet to thank Nobu

〜Timeless Tour finale〜 Nobuyuki Tsujii made a surprise appearance and we performed 2 songs together Thank you dear Nobu! サプライズゲストに辻井伸行さんが駆け付けて下さいました 夢のようなひと時に感謝と感動 タンポポの歌 Ave Maria

with a nice photo of them on stage together. Remember: Nobu has just returned from USA the day before.

♪ April 7 Surprise appearance at a Sarah Àlainn サラ・オレイン concert

Lest we think that Nobu is frantically learning the numerous new works for his upcoming concerts, he apparently has time for other things.

People who were at a sold-out concert last night in Tokyo by Australia-born singer/violinist/performer Sarah Àlainn サラ・オレイン were treated to a surprise appearance of Nobu on stage.

The two reportedly performed (he on piano, she sang) reditions of the たんぽぽの歌 "Dandelion Song" and Caccini (Vovilov)'s Ave Maria

Apparently the concert goers were told that there would be a "secret guest", but Nobu's appearance was a big surprise.

No photos of the performance have come up, but here is one of Nobu & the singer 'Sara' appearing together at a 2018 Japan-Australia state dinner, perhaps the first time that they met.

https://twitter.com/hiroshi55021311/status/1114884907149418497

4/7オペラシティコンサートホールにサラオレインさんのツアー千秋楽に行きました。シークレットゲストはピアニストの辻井伸行君でした。辻井君作曲のたんぽぽの歌とCacciniのAve Mariaを伴奏辻井君、歌唱サラさんで演奏してくれました。辻井君の演奏は、さすがでした。サラさんの歌唱もすごかったです

April 7 I went to the Opera City Concert Hall for Sarah Olein's tour concert. The secret guest was the pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii . Mr. Tsujii played the dandelion song that he composed and Caccini's Ave Maria, and played it with Sara singing. Mr. Tsujii's performance was amazing. Sarah's singing was great too

Here is a video of Caccini's Ave Maria, soprano with piano accompaniment.

The Dandelion song I don't believe is actually Nobu's composition, but perhaps his rendition of a Japanese children's song たんぽぽの歌 Here is a video of the song  => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWA2eZ8OubA

https://twitter.com/rinpai_sena/status/1114944973885939712

ヤバイ…２４時間以上寝てないのに、あの音が耳に残って寝れない😖 あの音には本当に一点の曇りもなかった！ 自分の表現を素直に聴いて欲しい…そんな気持ちに満ち溢れていた。 聴いた瞬間から涙が溢れて止まらなかった。 昨日のコンサートのゲストの、辻井伸行さんを知らなかった自分が恥ずかしい。

I have not slept for more than 24 hours, but that sound remains in my ears and 😖

I cannot sleep and that sound was not fading either! I want  to listen to the expression honestly ... I was full of such feelings. Tears overflowed from the moment I heard it and it did not stop. I was embarrassed that I did not know Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii, the guest of yesterday's concert.

https://twitter.com/yoggi0303/status/1115154635092705280

昨日サラ・オレインさんのコンサートで辻井伸行さんのピアノが聞けたことで幸福はやってきました なので贅沢は言いません(笑)

Happiness came in yesterday that I could hear the piano of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii at the concert of Ms. Sarah Àlainn, so I won't say luxury (laughs)

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bv_05OwA_G3/

サラさんコンサートとにかく素晴らしかった♡ 衣装早替え、それに合わせたヘアスタイル、バイオリン演奏、まさかのドラム、自転車デビュー、一曲一曲の選曲自体がサプライズ、映像でも楽しませてくれました。

しかし、それ以上のサプライズが準備されていました。なんとスペシャルゲストに辻井伸行くんが登場！！こんな素敵な事ってある？！もう大感激。いつかサラさんと共演して欲しいと思っていたけれど、まさかこんな形で実現するとは！辻井くんの優しいピアノの音色、サラさんの楽器のように美しい歌声、溢れる想いが涙となりました。

Sarah Àlainn Timeless Tour 2019

Sarah's Concert was wonderful anyway, what with the costume changes, matching hairstyles, violin performance, drums, bicycle debut, song selection, and on-stage video.

However, there was more surprise being prepared. A special guest, Nobuyuki Tsujii, would appear! ! Is there such a wonderful thing? ! I was really overwhelmed. I was thinking that I would like for him to play with Sarah someday, but it would come true just like that! Mr. Tsujiii's gentle piano tone, accompanying the beautiful singing voice of Sarah -- overflowing thoughts became tears.

UPDATE

No sooner had I made the last post than a tweet by singer Sarah Àlainn come up, with a photo of Nobu on stage accompanying her singing.

Her tweet is at https://twitter.com/SarahAlainn/status/1115113588866277378

... 辻井伸行さん, you are one bright [emoji for star, piano, thank you]...

[Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii, you are one bright star pianist. Thank you.]

Below is the photo with Nobu

♪ April 2 Nobu did us proud - AGAIN!

He delivered yet another thrilling performance, this timeon April 1 in Moscow performing Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 2 for the first time, with the Yokohama Sinfonietta for the first time, and making his debut appearance at the Mstislav Rostropovich Festival.

News, tons of photos, videos and stuff collected at Nobuyuki Tsujii at the 2019 Rostropovich Festival in Moscow

-- Congratulations to Nobu and his team!

(Photo source: Instagram)

♪ April 1 Nobuyuki Tsujii at the 2019 Rostropovich Festival in Moscow

Nobu and the Yokohama Sinfonietta are perhaps on their way to Moscow, where they will perform on April 1.

Nobu will play Beethoven's Piano Concerto no. 2.

On this page is a promotional video, posted by Russia's Kultural TV, for the festival => https://tvkultura.ru/video/show/brand_id/57589/episode_id/2147115/video_id/2159068/viewtype/picture/

If you don't blink ^_^ , you can catch a glimpse of the Yokohama Sinfonietta, Nobu & conductor Kazuki Yamada at around 00:00:15 (time mark).

Below is a screen grab taken during the microsecond when Nobu (a Harrison Parrot photo) is seen.

A recording of the opening ceremony will be shown on this TV station on March 31.

Sadly, there has been very little news on the performance and no word on any broadcasting, TV nor radio.  But I will keep checking.

♪ April 2 "I was not interested in him at all when he became popular in the past."

This Japanese tweet has nothing to do with the Moscow concert, but I want to post it before I forget, and to keep it in archival on this site

https://twitter.com/HarukaMusic__/status/1113063834065854465

辻井伸行はすごいなあ

昔流行ったときは全く興味なかったけど、自分が音楽わかってくるとやっぱ凄いんだなあってのが分かる。分かっちゃう。

Nobuyuki Tsujii is amazing

I was not interested in him at all when he became popular in the past, but when I came to understand the music, I understand why he is amazing. I understand now.

♪ March 26 Nobu recital in St. Petersburg on May 31

My head is spinning with all the Nobu news. There is now yet one more just announced recital, May 31 in St. Petersburg for the White Nights Festival -- same program as the just announced Carnegie Hall May 10 recital. 

According to a March 25 Announcement from the Mariinsky Theatre:

[Translated from Russian] Solo Concerts of Nobuyuki Tsujii and Dmitry Masleev at the 27h Stars of the White Nights Festival

The 27th Stars of the White Nights Music Festival will take place from May 22 to July 21, 2019 at all venues of the Mariinsky Theater in St. Petersburg. Among the new events added to the program are the concerts of Nobuuki Tsujii and Dmitry Masleev, opera performances with the participation of Elena Stikhina and Yevgeny Nikitin, in brilliant ballets with leading soloists from the ballet troupe of the Mariinsky Theater.

The concert poster of the Stars of the White Nights festival will be adorned with solo performances by famous musicians -- Nobuyuki Tsujii and Dmitry Maslee, etc. On May 31, at the concert hall, Nobuyuki Tsujii, the gold-medal winner of the Internationa Van Cliburn piano competition and exclusive artist of the Avex Classics Internations recording company, will perform a recital featuring music by Erik Satie, Claude Debussy, Maruice Ravel and Frederic Chopin ...

This performance comes right on the heel of Nobu's Europe Tour with Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg & conductor Marko Leton May 23-27, in addition to performances in Japan.

Details at Nobuyuki recital in St. Petersburg on May 31

Image above: "Playbill" for Nobu's White Nighs recital