Notable web postings - January 2018

Continued from Notable web postings - December 2017

Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival

♪ Four Year-end TV Specials, many outstanding performances

We have had the privilege to enjoy many TV appearances by Nobu since before Christmas.

There were a total of FOUR  year-end appearances, each of which features outstanding performances by Nobu. 

As someone who has had the privilege of seeing most of the Nobu TV specials in the past, I must say that this year's New Year shows of Nobu are especially good.

There were so many, and yet each one is special in a different way.

Nobu, at almost 30, is at a height of his physical attractiveness.  In these appearances, he looks well coifed, well dressed and physically fit.  He also looks calm and at ease.  And the friendship with Fumi (violinist Fumiaki Miura) has apparently been a good thing as well.  I am so happy for Nobu and hope he will always be in such good health and happiness.

Each of these shows features outstanding performances by Nobu, which you may watch on your computer, if you like.

(Photos shown in counterclockwise order, starting upper left)

Nobuyuki Tsujii × Paris 2017 Fuji-TV documentary

Nobuyuki Tsujii BS-Asahi-TV Christmas Day specials "Debut 10 Years"

January 13 appearance on "Untitled Concert" TV show

Nobuyuki Tsujii & Fumiaki Miura on TV, 2017 New Year's Eve

Further information at => Year-end TV Specials

♪ January 31  Album Releases ♪ January 31  Album Releases

Beethoven Sonata album

Debut 10 Years Commemorative Limited-Edition Live Performance Deluxe Box Set

They have been available for some time on sites such as Amazon Japan and CDJapan.

NEW => The Beethoven CD is now available on  U.S. Amazon.

Meanwhile, they have been available for some time on sites such as Amazon Japan and CDJapan.

These albums are currently best sellers on the chamber music/instrument music chart of Amazon Japan as well as on Japan's Rakuten online shopping site.

♪ January 30 Beethoven CD now in Tokyo stores

Nobu's brand-new "Beethoven sonatas" CD  has arrived at "HMV Esora Ikebukuro" Tokyo, one day ahead of the official release date of January 31.

https://twitter.com/HMV_IKE_CL_JZ/status/958174461131280385

＜入荷＞CDデビュー10周年を迎えた #辻井伸行。期待の最新録音盤は、コンサートで演奏する度にCD化の要望が寄せられて来たベートーヴェンの「3大ソナタ」！

<Arrival of goods>Celebrating Nobuyuki Tsujii 10th anniversary of CD debut. The latest recordings, much anticipated.

Beethoven's "Three Great Sonatas" came upon requests for CD recording every time he performs them at a concert!

♪ January 30 "Two Blind Brothers" take note of "Outstanding Blind Pianist performs La Campanella"

Nobu's performance of La Campanella at the 2013 BBC Proms is getting a plug from "Two Blind Brothers", who are American, visually impaired and active on social media.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdlkP6OG4T4

"SPECTACULAR! Nobuyuki Tsujii is one of the single most accomplished piano players in the world. He also just so happens to be blind. We were astounded by his superb performance of La Campanella, all just from memory! Check this out!"

♪ January 29   A Matter of the Heart

Japan's music writer Yoshiko Ikuma  is heading to Liverpool to cover Nobu's upcoming concerts in U.K. 

But in her latest blog post she makes no secret where her heart lies.

http://yoshikoikuma.sblo.jp/article/182263160.html

2018年01月28日

ロジャー・フェデラー

January 28 2018

Roger Federer

2018年のグランドスラムの幕開けとなる全豪オープンで、第2シードのロジャー・フェデラーが第6シードのクロアチアのマリン・チリッチと対戦し、5セットマッチの末、見事優勝を果たした。

Roger Federer finished a spectacular victory in the Australia Open after a spectacular five-set match

...

私はリヴァプール出張を控えているため、土曜日も日曜日も関係なく仕事に追われているが、ロジャーの優勝は本当に力になる。どんなに疲れていても、あの美しく芸術的なプレーを見ると、エネルギーが湧いてくるのである。

さて、ほんの少しの時間だけ、優勝を祝して乾杯しようかな。ロジャー、本当におめでとう!!

I have to work on Saturday and Sunday as I am going on a business trip to Liverpool, but Roger's victory is really powerful. No matter how tired I am, when I see that beautiful and artistic play, my energy surges.

Well, I will toast to celebrate the victory for only a short time. Roger, really congratulations !!

As a former admirer of a certain Swedish tennis player, I understand the sentiment.

It just seems ironic that these days tennis is far from my mind, and traveling to see Nobu perform is not work for me, but "when I see that beautiful and artistic play, my energy surges." ^_^

To each her own.♪ PIANO Magazine article

The magazine tweeted:

https://twitter.com/aomidori0027/status/956850711064600576

月刊ピアノの辻井伸行インタビュー記事。音が透明で✨キラキラ✨してると評されることに対しての、本人のコメントがとってもピュアで、音楽への敬意に満ちててステキ🎀

辻井さんのあのキラキラは理屈や演技じゃないから他の誰にも真似できないんだろうな

This month in the magazine: Nobuyuki Tsujii interview article. The comments of himself are very pure,  full of respect for music.  It is said that the sound [he makes] is transparent and it is said that it is sparkling and glittering.  The brilliance is not calculated or manufactured, so no one else can imitate it.

♪ January 26 Yoshiko Ikuma blog post

Yoshiko Ikuma is a Japan music writer who has written for and about Nobu extensively.

She also interviewed Nobu yesterday.  In her latest blog post she mentions mentions Nobu's soon-to-be-released albums, upcoming magazine articles, as well as that she will be in Liverpool to cover Nobu's U.K. concerts next month.

http://yoshikoikuma.sblo.jp/article/182248487.html

写真は、インタビュー後の1枚。「じゃ、次はリヴァプールで会いましょうね」といって、インタビュー会場をあとにした。

The picture [below] is one taken after the interview. "Well, let's meet in Liverpool next time," he said after the interview.

The photo shows Nobu similar to  the photo below.  Nobu looks happy and healthy in his stylish grey sports jacket over black shirt.

♪ Publicity for Nobu's Album Release

Tweeted by Japan music writer 浜中充 Mitsuru Hamanaka, with a photo

https://twitter.com/mitsuruhamanaka/status/956807085244608512

今日はピアノの辻井伸行さんの取材でした。ＣＤデビュー10周年にあたり、レコーディングの話題を中心にうかがっています。１月末発売の新譜は、10周年を記念した「スペシャルＬＩＶＥコレクション」（3CD＋1DVD）と、ベルリンでセッション録音されたベートーヴェン3大ソナタ（悲愴、月光、熱情）です

Today was an interview with pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii of the piano. The topics were the release of his tenth anniversary of CD debut, focusing on his recordings. The upcoming release at the end of January of his "Special LIVE Collection" (3 CD + 1 DVD) commemorating the 10th anniversary and Beethoven's three biggest sonatas recorded in Berlin (sorrow, moonlight, passion)

The accompanying photo shows Nobu seated across a tablefrom the writer, whose back is to the camera. 

Nobu looks sharp in his black shirt and light grey sports jacket, and well coifed hair -- he is ready for U.K.!

♪ January 24  2歳でレパートリー35曲！ A repertory of  35 works at the age of 2!

This article has come up on the web this week.

https://news.nifty.com/article/entame/rl/12184-37886/

2 歳でレパートリー35曲！？天才ピアニスト・辻井伸行がピアノを始めたキッカケって

A repertory of 35 works at the age of 2! What? Genius pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii started playing the piano.

1月22日に放送された『中居正広の身になる図書館』(テレビ朝日系)に、盲目のピアニスト・辻井伸行の母親のいつ子さんが出演。今や世界的ピアニストに成長した辻井がピアノを始めた時のエピソードを語った。

On the "Nakaii Masahiro's Library" (TV Asahi) aired on January 22, Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii, mother of pianist Nobuyuki, spoke about how he grew into a global painist.

辻井が生まれて間もないころ、いつ子さんが掃除機や洗濯機を使うと、いつも辻井は泣き出したのだという。その泣き方が半端ではなかったようで、いつ子さんは「これは(洗濯機や掃除機の)音が嫌なんだろうな。音楽かなんかが好きなんじゃないのか」と辻井の耳がとても繊細なのではと考え、「オモチャでも音が出るものにすごい興味を持ったので」とオモチャのピアノを買ってあげたらしい。

Shortly after Tsujii was born, he would cry the whole time while Mrs. Tsujii uses a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine. This seems unusual among children. She thought, "He is repeled by the noises of washing machine and vacuum cleaner. But might he like music?" She thought that his ears are very sensitive. "He seems very interested in the sound generated even with a toy." She bought a toy piano for him.

それから辻井は、オモチャのピアノを毎日弾くようになり、2歳ですでにレパートリーが35曲もあったようで、専門家によると「2歳はようやく喋れるかどうかの段階であり、35曲も音を聞き分けて弾けるというのはとんでもないこと」と説明。

Then Tsujii started to play the toy piano every day, and it seems that there were already 35 pieces in his repertory at the age of 2. According to experts "At the stage of 2 year old, most children are just beginning to talk, and it seems unlikely that he would be able to distinguish and play 35 songs."

番組では、2歳の辻井がオモチャのピアノで曲を弾く当時の映像が流れ、そのクオリティの高さにスタジオ内から驚愕の声が挙った。

On the show, a 2-year old Tsujii is shown [via video footage] playing a song on a toy piano, and generated an outstanding high-quality sound.

番組を見ていたツイッターユーザーからは「辻井伸行くんの2歳の頃のピアノ弾く映像は衝撃だった。本当に天才なんだなぁって。楽しそうにピアノをひいてた。」「辻井伸行本当に天才なんだなあ もちろん努力の人だろうけど…2歳で伴奏付きでピアノ弾けるなんて天才としか言いようがない…」「辻井伸行さんすごい。2歳って、子供によっては話すこともまだだったりするのに」などなど、驚きの声が多く寄せられている。

Many Twitter users who were watching the program expressed surprise. "Seeing the video of Nobuyui Tsujii playing the piano at 2 years old was a shock. He really is a genius ... he was having a happy time. " "I think Nobuyuki Tsujii really is a genius ... Of course it takes the effort of a person... for him to play the piano accompanying his mother's singing at the age of two ... "" Nobuyuki Tsujii's amazing; some children cannot even talk at 2 years old."

いつ子さんのように子どもの適性を見分け、やりたいことをやらせてあげれば、子どもの才能は伸びるのかもしれない。自分の夢を子どもに押し付ける親は少なくないので、今一度、何が子どものためになるのかを考える必要がありそうだ。

Mrs. Tsujii said, regarding the aptitude of children: If you let them do what they want to do, children 's talent may grow. Because many parents push their dreams to their children,

it seems necessary to think once again what is good for children.

♪ "A ce niveau de performance le gars ne cherche plus ses notes ou intervalles [At this level of performance the guy is no longer searching the keys to cover the intervals anymore]"

Nobu's La Campanella is a regular posting topic on the web, in Japanese. So it was interesting to read this discussion thread, in French for a change.

https://www.koreus.com/modules/newbb/topic180636.html

[Translated from French]

- The Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind by birth, played Liszt's La Campanella , considered a particularly technical piece, at the closing of the BBC Proms, broadcast live in 2013. [posted with link to BBC Proms video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbAoeZZvntk, which now has had 4.6 million views and 23K thumbs up]

- Impressive. it takes work but I think that in this case not being able to see might be a good thing, not having to search for the notes ... by  looking!

- Yeah, you really have to know this piece by heart and playing at this level, you do not have the score as a clutch  you really have to memorize everything.

- And I would add that the intervals [jumps] are impressive (example: at 04'44 "; there is no time to fumble around on the black keys to see where to press ).

- At this level of performance the guy is no longer searching the keys to cover the intervals anymore [laugh]

More at => Nobuyuki Tsujii's "La Campanella"

♪ Nobu to appear in Germany Cultural Festival this Summer

This is something new. Nobu is among the headline performers announced for the 2018 KULTURUFER FRIEDRICHSHAFEN , "a large ten-day festival with music and dance, theater and cabaret in a total of 30 tent events" in Friedrichshafen, a lakeside city in Southern Germany. Nobu's performance takes place in the evening of the last day of the festival, so it's the closing event. And it appears to be a solo concert. This is an outdoor summer festival. Nobu seems to enjoy these outdoor performances.

Nobu performed in Friedrichshafen in winter 2017, February 12 to be specific, when he played Grieg's Piano Concerto on a tour with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and conductor Marco Letonja. He received a glowing review from the performance, and apparently was remembered well.

More at => Nobuyuki Tsujii in 2018 Germany summer festival

♪ Nobu returns to Carnegie Hall with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra September 20

Nobuyuki Tsuji and his frequent partner the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra are back together again this year.

They will perform Thursday September 20 8PM at the Carnegie Hall's Stearn Auditorium

http://orpheusnyc.org/event/gentle-giants-nobuyuki-tsujii-piano/

"The beloved Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii joins the Orpheus strings for a streamlined orchestration of Chopin’s early Piano Concerto No. 2, a work in which virtuoso showmanship mingles with the intimacy of Chopin’s solo music."

♪ January 22 Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii on Asahi-TV, with Nobu appearance by video

https://ameblo.jp/tsujii-itsuko/entry-12344903802.html

Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii was among the guests who appear on 'Nakaii Masahiro's Library' [Japan Asahi-TV Show].  She spoke about her decisions for Nobu's developments.

The show drew a lot of comments, including these

https://twitter.com/micanaitoh/status/955450643317075968 [tweet by a writer]

今日、テレビで全盲のピアニスト・辻井伸行さんとお母様の辿った道を当時の映像を交えて紹介していて感動しました。息子さんの才能を早いうちに見出し、世界レベルに育て上げられたお母様の献身的な支えが素晴らしすぎて。自分の子どもの”他の子どもとは少し違う部分（才能）"に気付ける親でありたい。

Today, I was touched by the TV appearance of the mother of blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii and the path that she followed, with accompanying images of those days.  She discovered her son's  talent as early as possible, and gave her dedicated support to raise him to a world- class artist; it was too wonderful. I too want to be a parent who takes note of my child's "slightly different way (talent) from other children."

https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/955456536276430853 [Yura's tweet, with screen grabs from the show]

ピアニストになる分かれ道。辻井伸行母いつ子さん『店員に頼んで弾かせてもらったピアノに外国人がブラボー天才！と拍手してくれて。得意げな顔で上を向いて笑っているんです。その顔を見た時、もしかしたらこのピアノが彼を明るい光の当たるところに連れてってくれるじゃないかと思って嬉しかった。』

The path to becoming a pianist. Mother of Nobuyuki Tsujii: "The shop clerk asked him to play on the piano and the foreigners [in the mall in Saipan] applauded and gave him bravos. He looked up with a happy face, laughing. When I saw that face, I was happy to think that the piano might bring him to the place where the bright light strikes. "

Nobu made a guest appearance via video. In the screen grab, Nobu is seated in front of a piano [at his home?] and he is wearing a long-sleeve shirt, black with small white dots [we have seen that shirt before.]

昨日放送されていたTV番組でピアニスト辻井伸行さんの幼少期の教育について紹介されていました。なんと！０歳からおもちゃのピアノに触れ、母の歌にあわせて「おもちゃのちゃちゃちゃ」などを弾いていたそうですよ. 当店でも小さなお子様用のピアノを置いてますのでぜひ！！ #こどもピアノ #辻井

On the TV program that was broadcasted yesterday, early childhood education of pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii started with his touching a toy piano from age 0.

It seems that he played 'Toy Cha Cha' etc along with his mother 's singing. At our shop we have pianos for small children, so please do come in! !

Interestingly, this concert is not mentioned on the Facebook page of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra at all, and the orchestra seems to be holding another concert at the exact same time at another venue (Tokyo City Opera House). 

♪ Jan 21  Finally, a photo from the Jan 19 Japan-Australia State Dinner

Sarah Àlainn サラ・オレイン [music student at University Sydney/Tokyo University] tweeted in Japanese /English

https://twitter.com/SarahAlainn/status/954987996679348224

辻井伸行さんの音色は生で聴くとさらにピュアーで、平和な気持ちになりました。今日は初めてラフマニノフのパガニーニの主題による狂詩曲を披露され、辻井さんverの大好きな曲が聴けて幸せ！辻井さんが表現する色々な曲達をもっと聴いていたい🎹

Thank you Nobuyuki. You are an inspirational friend!

The Japanese part says:

Nobuyuki Tsujii 's voice is lively, and it conveys a feeling of purity and peace. Today, for the first time, I heard it demonstrated in Rachmaninov's Rhapsody in Paganini's theme and I am happy to hear Mr. Tsujii's favorite songs! I would like to hear more songs expressed by Mr. Tsujii.

It seems that Ms. Alainn was at the Super Soloist concert but also at the Japan-Australia State Dinner hosted by PM Abe for PM Turnbull hosted by PM Abe for PM Turnbull on January 19!

An excellent photo accompanies the tweet, and it shows Ms. Alainn seated next to Nobu at a banquet table at that dinner [recognized by the wall panels in the background]! So Nobu was there after all. The photo shows a well coifed Nobu  dressed in performance attire (tux, white shirt and black bow tie).

I posted a reply to the tweet thanking Ms. Alainn and asking her if Nobu performed at the banquet [I suspect not, judging from what she wrote in the tweet]

And she has very kindly replied: "Unfortunately he didn't perform at the banquet!" I thanked her for the answer. I suspected as much. Mr. Turnbull did not spend much time in Japan.

I thanked her for the answer.  I suspected as much.  Mr. Turnbull did not spend much time in Japan.  But I feel bad for Nobu -- he is lost when he does not perform on the piano at such an event!

♪ Nobu interview in the February issue of Japan's "Piano" magazine

The magazine, which comes on sale today Jan 20, will include an interview with Nobu, on his "Debut 10 years" Japan Tour coming up in February.

♪ January 19  No Photo of Nobu at Japan-Australia State Dinner

It's so unusual for there to be no photo of Nobu at such a public event. Very disappointing.

This photo that Yura found somewhere is the closes thing.

https://twitter.com/icoyuraco/status/954193141627629568

夕食会首相挨拶『本日は両国の友好関係を経済、学術、芸術、スポーツ他など多方面で支えておられる方々を御招待いたしました。皆様のおかげで極めて友好な日豪友好関係があります。皆様に御礼申し上げますとともに、今後とも御協力いただきますようにお願いいたします。』映りきれなかったな

Greeting from the Prime Minister of the Dinner Participation "Today I invited those who support the friendship of the two countries in various ways, such as economics, academics, art, sports and others. Thanks to everyone there is a friendly relationship between Japan and Australia. We would like to thank everyone and thank you for your continued cooperation in the future. " I could not see it [Nobu in the picture].

The photo shows a lot of men dressed in business suits at several round banquet tables.  Indeed Nobu cannot be spotted in the picture.  I wonder if there was a piano for him to play on.

There are similar photos in an album posted on this page => https://www.kantei.go.jp/jp/98_abe/actions/201801/18australia.html

♪ January 18 Nobu invited by Prime Minister Abe to dinner for Australian Prime Minister Turnbull

Surprise news. Today (Jan 18) in Japan, Prime Minister Abe is hosting a dinner for Australian Prime Minister Turnbull, and Nobu has been invited as a guest.

In 2016, Nobu gave a warmly received mini-recital in the parliament at Australia's capital Canberra before he made his thrilling Sydney Opera House debut with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

I imagine Nobu will be playing a song or two on the piano this evening.

♪ January 22 Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii on Asahi-TV

https://ameblo.jp/tsujii-itsuko/entry-12344903802.html

中居正広の身になる図書館」に出演します

今回はスタジオにお邪魔し、

伸行の人生の分かれ道でどんな決断をし、

伸行のピアニストまでの道のりをサポートしたかを

お話しさせていただきますきらきら

伸行は、VTRで登場します♪.・。*

・放送日時：2018年1月22日（月）20：00～21：48

・放送局 ：テレビ朝日系

Mrs. Itsuko Tsujii to appear on 'Nakaii Masahiro's Library' [Japan Asahi-TV Show]

She will speak about her decisions for Nobu's developments.

Nobu will make a guest appearance via video.

♪ Limited Tickets available for January 21 Super Soloist concert -- NOT ANYMORE

Late last night  (Jan 17 U.S. time) I tweeted about the limited availability, and the tweet was liked by conductor 角田鋼亮 Tadashi Kakuda, among others.

I checked again just now (the next morning)  and apparently those tickets are all gone.

Tickets for the Super Soloist concert on Jan 21 in Tokyo's Bunkamura Orchard Hall were sold out instantly when they came on sale last year.

But just now, on the pia ticket site, limited quantity of  S-seat (9000Y) tickets have become available.

This is the concert at which Nobu performs with the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra and conductor 角田鋼亮 Tadashi Kakuda.

Two concertos are on the program: Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on Paganini's Theme AND Grieg's Piano Concerto.

♪ January 31  Album Releases

For us spoiled Nobu fans, there is always something to look forward to!

Now that the TV appearances are over, we can look forward to the release of TWO Nobu albums coming up at the end of THIS month.

Beethoven Sonata album

Debut 10 Years Commemorative Limited-Edition Live Performance Deluxe Box Set

I just checked. Both CDs are listed on the U.S. Amazon as "Currently unavailable", which means they will become available later.

Meanwhile, they have been available for some time on sites such as Amazon Japan and CDJapan.♪ January 31  Album Releases

For us spoiled Nobu fans, there is always something to look forward to!

Now that the TV appearances are over, we can look forward to the release of TWO Nobu albums coming up at the end of THIS month.

Beethoven Sonata album

Debut 10 Years Commemorative Limited-Edition Live Performance Deluxe Box Set

I just checked. Both CDs are listed on the U.S. Amazon as "Currently unavailable", which means they will become available later.

Meanwhile, they have been available for some time on sites such as Amazon Japan and CDJapan.

♪ Four Year-end TV Specials, many outstanding performances

We have had the privilege to enjoy many TV appearances by Nobu since before Christmas.

There were a total of FOUR  year-end appearances, each of which features outstanding performances by Nobu. 

As someone who has had the privilege of seeing most of the Nobu TV specials in the past, I must say that this year's New Year shows of Nobu are especially good.

There were so many, and yet each one is special in a different way.

Nobu, at almost 30, is at a height of his physical attractiveness.  In these appearances, he looks well coifed, well dressed and physically fit.  He also looks calm and at ease.  And the friendship with Fumi (violinist Fumiaki Miura) has apparently been a good thing as well.  I am so happy for Nobu and hope he will always be in such good health and happiness.

Each of these shows features outstanding performances by Nobu, which you may watch on your computer, if you like.

(Photos shown in counterclockwise order, starting upper left)

Nobuyuki Tsujii × Paris 2017 Fuji-TV documentary

Nobuyuki Tsujii BS-Asahi-TV Christmas Day specials "Debut 10 Years"

January 13 appearance on "Untitled Concert" TV show

Nobuyuki Tsujii & Fumiaki Miura on TV, 2017 New Year's Eve

Further information at => Year-end TV Specials

♪ "Do you think Nobuyuki Tsujii could learn the entire set of Transcendental Etudes by Liszt?"

Posting on reddit => https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/7pd3nu/do_you_think_nobuyuki_tsujii_could_learn_the/

Do you think Nobuyuki Tsujii could learn the entire set of Transcendental Etudes by Liszt? After watching Nobuyuki Tsujii perform at Carnagie Hall i just can't help but fantasize about seeing him playing Liszt's Transcendental Etudes. They are some of the most feared etudes in the literature and to see a blind pianist with the acclaim of Tsujii play them, with his high level of playing, would be awe-inspiring. I'd love to see him at the proms and just blow everyone's mind....AGAIN!

It's good to see such a post from someone who obviously knows something about Nobu and classical piano music.

Needless to say I fired off a response, and the poster responded.

Please click to see the thread, if you wish => https://www.reddit.com/r/classicalmusic/comments/7pd3nu/do_you_think_nobuyuki_tsujii_could_learn_the/

♪ January 12 "Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu" Update

A while back I wrote a piece titled "Chopin's Fantaisie Impromptu" about that romantic masterpiece, how I yearn to hear a performance of it by Nobu, and that learning to play the work is one of my new year's resolutions.

This morning, my local classical music station just played the piece. I didn't catch the name of the pianist at the start and so I listened till the end. The playing was good but I immediately took a disliking to it because the pianist put too much expression in it -- exaggerated slowness and emphasized clarity in certain parts, when this is one piece that calls for a passionate playing with minimum rubato, in my opinion.

It turns out the player of the piece that I heard is Maria Joao Pires, whom I respect and whose renditions of Chopin's nocturnes put me to sleep every night.

By comparison, I prefer Ashkenazy's rendition far better. In my opinion, Nobu would be the perfect person to play this piece, with his straight-forward and heart-felt way of playing. His rendition should be close to Ashkenazy's.   I can already hear it in my mind.

By the way, I am managing to play this work. I have decided to skip some of the notes in the "presto" part so that the melody played by the left hand in arpreggio can be recognized, and now it's a matter of practice, practice, practice until I can bring up the speed. The slow part is no problem at all. And the whole thing is a lot of fun to play. What a genius Chopin really is.

♪ "LINE stamps" announced on Nobu's official website

Nobu's official site got a small update after a long time: there is now a link to the "LINE stamps", previously mentioned here.

LINE is a popular chat app for mobile phones in Japan, and these stickers or stamps are something that can be used to decorate texting on the phone.

The amusing images for the stamps, drawn by a renowned artist in Japan, are drawings of Nobu for different occasions (birthday, happy, mad, etc.), and include one as Nobu as Beethoven and another as Bach (below).

♪ Another call for Nobu to receive Japan's 国民栄誉賞 National Honor Award

It's not the first time that I have come across a post like this. I believe the 国民栄誉賞 National Honor Award in Japan is similarly to the Kennedy Center Honors

in the U.S. or the OBE in U.K.

http://blog.goo.ne.jp/yakkun0002/e/273a488f357b441615b8a6d67ac42f0e

辻井伸行さんに、国民栄誉賞をあげよう！

Let's give Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii the National Honor Award!

盲目のピアニスト・辻井伸行さんは、

障害者たちの励みだ。

いや、健常者だって、

彼の生き方に、大いに勇気付けられる。

彼の存在とパフォーマンスは、

若者の教育のためにもプラスだ。

また日本人の誇りでもある。

大地一人は、彼に国民栄誉賞をあげては？

・・・と思っている。

人間は、苦しいときにがんばることこそが尊いのだ。

Blind pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, is an inspiration for people with disabilities.

No, for healthy people [people without handicaps] as well,

through his courageous way of life.

His presence and his performance sets a good example for young people's education.

He is also a pride of the Japanese.

Why shouldn't we give a national honor award to him?

I have the greatest respect for people who triumph in spite of adversities.

♪ "LINE stamps" announced on Nobu's official website

Nobu's official site got a small update after a long time: there is now a link to the "LINE stamps", previously mentioned here.

♪ The Orchestre régional de Cannes-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur

I think I mentioned this at least once before, but the French wikipedia page of the Orchestre régional de Cannes-Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur came up on my news search today, and under the list of pianists who have performed with the orchestra Nobu is listed last but not least. I took the opportunity to modify the text so that Nobu's name is linked to his French wiki page. I didn't put the original mention of Nobu on that page, and I am happy that Nobu is remembered by presumable someone associated with that orchestra, even though he performed with them way back in 2011 and only once, at the Théâtre Claude Debussy (which seems to have changed its name), to a small but enthusiastic audience, as can be seen in the photo below from the concert report 12.4.2011 posted on the Nobuyuki Tsujii Official Web site.

♪ Nobu's autograph

I confess that I used to pay little attention to the challenges that disabled people face everyday. That changed after I became a fan of Nobuyuki Tsujii. Among the many gifts that he brought me is that he has raised my awareness about the visually impaired.

Consider the matter of signing one's name, a task that most people take for granted. But for the blind, making an autograph is a non-trivial undertaking.

How does Nobu and other visually impaired people make their signatures? What does Nobu's autograph look like? => Nobu's autograph

How does Nobu and other visually impaired people make their signatures?   What does Nobu's autograph look like? =>  Nobu's autograph

♪ January 6 A testament to Nobu's box-office draw in Japan

http://www.officeone.co.jp/

This site lists upcoming Kitara (Hokkaido) concerts by many popular Japanese performers, including Yutaka Sado, Fumiaki Miura, Kako Takashi.

Among them, the only one that has sold out 完売 thus far is ... Nobuyuki Tsujii's recital in March -- a testament to Nobu's box-office draw in Japan! 🙂

♪ January 6 Another addition to the "Nobu drawings" collection

https://ameblo.jp/amoroso0927anim/entry-12342321434.html

This blog post comes with a stylish drawing of Nobu, his fingers length slightly exaggerated) dancing on the keyboard.

♪ A Caricature of Nobu

Yet another addition to my collection of Illustrations of Nobuyuki Tsujii

https://ameblo.jp/yellow-croquis/entry-12341136355.html

♪ New Year Treats for the Tsujii Family

Mrs. Tsujii wrote in her blog:

2017年は、伸行もわたしも、素敵な縁に恵まれ、多くの方々に支えられ、充実した一年を送ることができました。ありがとうございます。

In 2017, both Nobuyuki and me, blessed with wonderful connections and the support by many people, we were able to have a fulfilling year.

Thank you very much.

She posted this photo of the New Year treat for the family.

美味しいおせちとワイン🍷をいただきました！ We had delicious osechi and wine.

Osechi is a Japanese New Year traditional, an assortment of snacks served in an elegant compartmentalized box (like bento boxes).

She wishes everyone a great new year.

December 30 2017 A Nobu Sticker

A new addition to my collection of Illustrations of Nobuyuki Tsujii

This drawing is from a page that sells stickers -- it shows the face of Nobu with his characteristic thick head of black hair and warm smile, a black bow tie, with hands up -- the right hand has the index finger up, and the left hand with the thumb and index finger making a circle (the OK sign).

http://www.ilikesticker.com/LineStickers/W708038-Nobuyuki-Tsujii/ja

And there are more -- it seems the site sells a sheet of 40 stickers in the images of Nobu in everyday life -- the drawings are quite good ^_^

http://www.line-tatsujin.com/detail/a688366.html

世界で活躍するピアニスト、辻井伸行の日常がLINEスタンプで登場

The daily life of a world-renowned pianist, Nobuyuki Tsujii, appears as stamps (or stickers)

This one, of Nobu -- donning swimming cap and gargles -- is true to a photo that I have seen

Another one, of Nobu playing happy birthday on a piano

And one of Nobu as Beethoven ^_^ -- there is also one of him as Bach.

These stickers would be fun for decorating a letter or a note.

I did some research, and it turns out these are LINE stickers.  LINE is a popular chat app for mobile phones in Japan, and these stickers or stamps are something that can be used in texting on the phone.

♪ A Caricature of Nobu

Yet another addition to my collection of Illustrations of Nobuyuki Tsujii

https://ameblo.jp/yellow-croquis/entry-12341136355.html