Notable web postings - July 2017

Continued from Notable web postings - May 2017 

Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival

♪ Looking ahead to July

One of the pleasures of being a Nobu fan is that there is always something to look forward to, thanks to Nobu's boundless energy and the efforts of his devoted staff.

This coming month (July 2017), we have these events  to keep our eyes on:  July 2 start of Premium Recitals (photo right); July 6 "Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" on BS-Asahi-TV (photo bottom left); July 13 Germany Cultural Radio broadcast of Nobu's May 15 concert with Vladimir Ashkenazy & Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin (DSO Berlin) in the Berliner Philharmonie.

COMING UP:  July 2 - 28 Nobuyuki Tsujii 2017 Premium Recitals 10 sold-out performances in Saitama, Osaka,Shimane, Nagano, Aichi, Akita, Yamagata, Tokyo

News, comments and photos on the recital performances can be found at => Nobuyuki Tsujii 2017 Premium Recitals - news, photos & comments

On the program are works by Debussy, Beethoven and Liszt (3 Transcendental Etudes).

I for one hope he plays something other than "La Campanella" and "Revolution" for encores.

♪ July 29 Nobuyuki Tsujii × Fumiaki Miura & Liverpool Phil 2018 Japan Tour

Today there is an announcement about three performances in Tokyo: http://www.ints.co.jp/tsujii-miura-liverpoolphil2018/index.htm 

 There are two programs:

◆ May 14 Suntory Hall performance [program A]

Walton: Johannesburg Festive Overture

Vaughan Williams: The Lark Ascending[violin: Fumiaki Miura]

Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor [piano: Nobuyuki Tsujii]

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5 "Revolution"

◆May 11 Omiya Sonic City Performance /May 16 Orchard Hall Performance

[Program B]

Rachmaninoff: Rhapsody on Paganini's Theme [Piano: Nobuyuki Tsujii]

Tchaikovsky: Piano Concerto No. 1 [Piano: Nobuyuki Tsujii]

Tchaikovsky: Symphony No. 4

 ♪ July 28   A (charity?) live performance just before heading to Russia

Yura tweeted:

辻井伸行 8月5日に番組生演奏ですか博多JR九州ホールで😮 って、9日にはゲルギエフ招待のロシア🇷🇺でコンサート本番ですのに？相変わらず超ハードです💦http://www.kbc.co.jp/event/watergreen2017/concert/ …Nobuyuki Tsujii a live performance on August 5, or may be a oncert at the Hakata JR Kyushu Hall.  On the 9th, there is a concert in Russia invited by Gergiev?

He is super tough as ever.

The accompanying photo of an announcement says:

8月5日（土）「水と緑の物語」特別番組 放送決定！ 辻井伸行の番組生演奏（JR九州ホール）にペアでご招待します

「KBC水と緑のキャンペーン」のキャンペーンテーマ曲を作曲した辻井伸行のスペシャルコラボ演奏が実現。

日時

8月5日（土）午後4時15分開場／4時45分開演（予定）

場所

JR博多シティ9F「JR九州ホール」（福岡市博多区博多駅中央街1-1）

August 5 (Sat) "Water and Green Story" special program broadcast decision!

We would like to invite you in pairs to Nobuyuki Tsujii's live performance for the filming of the program (at JR Kyushu Hall)

Nobuyuki Tsujii 's special performance of the theme music, which he composed for the "KBC Water and Green Campaign," realized.

Date and time

Saturday, August 5 at 4:15 pm / 4:45 curtain (scheduled)

Place

Hakata City 9F "JR Kyushu Hall" (Fukuoka City Hakata Station)

All seats reserved for 150 people (75 couples) by lottery and already allotted as of July 9.

I believe this is a charity performance in support of a 20-year old campaign at Fukuoka for environmental awareness.

Indeed this appearance will come just days before his August 9 performance with Valery Gergiev in Vladivostok, Russia.

However, Vladivostok is only a 3-hours' flight from Tokyo, which is probably nothing to superman Nobu.

♪ Special Concert for 10th Anniversary of Nobu's Début Album

Earlier today I posted an article about Mr. Tetsuji Honna, a childhood teacher/mentor of Nobu, and voila --

they will perform Rach 2 in a special concert just announced to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Nobu's Début Album!

http://www.ints.co.jp/tsujii-10th-2017/index.htm

辻井伸行 début 10周年記念特別コンサート

プロデビュー10周年を記念し、一夜限りの特別なコンサートを開催！

出演：辻井伸行 本名徹次指揮 東京フィルハーモニー交響楽団

2017年 11月13日(月) 19：00開演（18：15開場）

サントリーホール

Nobuyuki Tsujii début 10th Anniversary Special Concert

To celebrate the 10th anniversary of the professional debut, a special concert will be held for one night only!

Performers: Nobuyuki Tsujii, Conductro Tetsuji Honna, Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra

November 13 2017 19:00

Suntory Hall

Also on the program are a special video, solo works => Special Concert for 10th Anniversary of Nobu's Début Album

♪ July 27 Shilling for the October London Phil Tour

This article in today's 中日新聞"Mid-day News" in Japan promotes Nobu's upcoming concerts with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

3 of the 8 concerts have already sold out, but the others still have limited availability.

 ＜おはよう出番です＞ 辻井伸行

  2017/7/27 朝刊 

体の中に、いつもリズムが宿っているという。ピアノはまるで友達のよう。人々を引きつける音の輝きは、理屈だけでは語れない。公演は完売続出、クラシック音楽界随一の人気と知名度を誇る。今秋、英国の名門オーケストラ、ロンドン・フィルハーモニー管弦楽団と共演し、名古屋、浜松でステージに立つ。

It is said that rhythm is always in the body. The piano sounds like a friend. The glow of the sound that attracts people can not be explained by reason alone. Performances are sold out in succession, boasting the most popular and famous music of the classical music world. This autumn, he plays with the British prestigious orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, on stage at Nagoya, Hamamatsu ...

 The full article requires registration to read, but the Nobu photo accompanying the teaser seems very recent.

♪ July 24 Tenth Anniversary of Nobu's Début Album

Hard to believe, but the 10th anniversary of Nobu's "début" album is upon us.

Avex Classics just announced a discount sale of the two-disc album on Japan's iTune, GooglePlay, etc.

 http://avex.jp/classics/news/detail.php?cd=TUJIN&id=1051704

Avex Classics News

2017.07.24 ［辻井伸行］

辻井伸行 間もなくCDデビュー10周年！配信において期間限定プライスオフセール実施。

The album is available on U.S. Amazon and features both Nobu's own compositions and music by Chopin, Liszt and Ravel.

♪ July 25 Nobu's Music "perfumes" the lounge of ANA (All Nippon Airways)

An amusing tweet from someone traveling from Tokyo to Yamagata City on this day.

https://twitter.com/Travelitwell/status/889643338089066496

そして、いつもの辻井伸行さんのピアノ🎹が流れている🎼。ANAアライバルラウンジにて。そしてこの香り。帰ってきました(^_-)。#FLT_NHNRTCTS

And, as usual Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii's piano 🎹 is flowing 🎼. At the ANA Arrival Lounge. And with this scent. I am back.

ANA is a sponsor of Nobu, acknowledged in his concert programs both in Japan and overseas. It is considered by many as one of the best airlines in the world.

♪ July 23 音楽と絵画コンサート "Music and Painting" concert tour officially announced

We have known for some time about these concerts, in which he plays music composed by himself as well as by Chopin and Debussy, under projection of images on screen. One performance, in Saga, quickly sold out.

Today, there is an official announcement of the tour => http://avex.jp/classics/tsujii-ongakutokaiga2017/

There are 10 performances from November 22 through December 17, with additional performances in Hyogo and Osaka. to be announced:

Details, including tour stops and concert program => 2017 Music and Painting Concert Tour

♪ July 21 To be confirmed: "Untitled Concert" appearance on August 20??

This tweet came up today without a link to the source of information, but it mentions an August 20 appearance of Nobu on the Asahi-TV show "Untitled Concert", popular classical music variety show.

I checked the show's website but the August programs are not listed as yet. Something to keep an eye on. Something to keep an eye on.

Nobu has appeared on this show many times in the past, most recently in 2016 (photo below) with violinist Ryu Goto as moderator.  However, it seems the show now has another moderator, 石丸幹二 Miki Ishimaru .   

I checked the show's website but the August programs are not listed as yet. Something to keep an eye on. Something to keep an eye on.

Nobu has appeared on this show many times in the past, most recently in 2016 (photo below).

https://twitter.com/naniwait/status/888025694428479488

８月の"題名のない音楽会"は興味深い出演者が多数(総集編的な回も？)。６日は反田恭平、13日はワディム・レーピン&ネマニャ･ラドゥロヴィチ、20日はラン･ラン&ユンディ･リ&ファジル･サイ&辻井伸行の皆さん。27日は高輪台、浜松聖星、柏の３つの高校の名前が。

August's "Untitled Concert" has lots of interesting performers (also a comprehensive time?) ... 20th is Lang Lang & Yundi Li & Fazil Say & Nobuyuki Tsujii ...

♪ July 20 "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" part 3

A reminder to our friends in Japan: The 3rd segment of the "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" will shown on BS-Asahi 9:54PM-10PM . Today's segment will be about Stage Manager: Makoto Fujiwara .

BS朝日

「辻井伸行 感動バックヤード」

7月20日 July 20

#3 ステージマネージャー：藤原真（ふじわら・まこと）

ナレーション：平原綾香

7月20日 July 20 よる9：54～10：00 放送

♪ July 20 Nobu's Deep Bow

It just occurred to me to check Instagram and, sure enough, there are many posts about the Premium Recitals -- the usual, except for this photo posted by someone with the Shirakawa Hall who works backstage, judging from the angle of the camera.

It's not a very flattering photo, but it shows a rare glimpse of Nobu making a Japanese-style deep bow on stage.

He would bow, waist-deep, to the left, to the center and to the right at the audience. And if there are people seated behind the stage, he would bow in that direction too. This is done after playing on the piano at full force for over an hour, often drenched in sweat. An American woman in Texas once wrote that she cried when she first saw Nobu bowing like that.

♪ Tokyo London Phil added concert  on Nov 11 HAS vacancies

It was previous reported that tickets for the added concert were sold out immediately.  It turns out there are now tickets available on ticket outlet PIA, after all.

It is not unusual for this to happen.  Concert tickets in Japan are distributed to different outlets and tickets unsold are often returned to the larger outlets such as PIA. 

So, as of today (July 17), there ARE seats available for this performance of Rach 2 at the Tokyo Cultural Center on Nov. 11.

http://ticket.pia.jp/pia/ticketInformation.do?eventCd=1728933&rlsCd=001&lotRlsCd=

辻井伸行／ウラディーミル・ユロフスキ（指揮）／ロンドン・フィルハーモニー管弦楽団

2017/10/11(水)19:00

東京文化会館 大ホール (東京都)

Ｓ席, Ａ席 空席あり

♪ July 16 Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Liszt's Transcendental Etudes

I had meant to put together an article about Liszt's Transcendental Etudes before the start of the Nobuyuki Tsujii 2017 Premium Recitals. As I write, the tour is already half way over.

But some comments posted about the recitals made me want to make this post before his fifth performance.

At these premium recitals, which take place at a more intimate setting in smaller venues, Nobu usually speaks to the audience at the end of the regular program, before his encore(s). In the past, he usually thanked the audience for their attention, adding some crowd-pleasing bon mots about local delicacies. But this year's talk seems to have taken a more serious turn.

Reportedly, Nobu has been saying to the audiences that after such a taxing program, which is demanding on the audience as well as on the player, hardly any encore is needed -- before playing a single encore (Chopin's Nocturne No. 8) to wrap up each recital.

I heard some comments to the effect that the Liszt transcendental etudes are truly a challenge to Nobu.

I won't get to hear Nobu's transcendental etudes until this fall. But there is no question that these are serious knuckle busters, as most of Liszt's works are.

Just how challenging are these etudes? How do they compare with Chopin's Op 10 etudes?

Please click to read, if you wish => Nobuyuki Tsujii plays Liszt's Transcental Etudes

A bona fide virtuoso, Nobu has done very well with many of Liszt's works, here is a video of him performing The Fountains of the Villa d'Este, in Paris, 2014.

Image source: DSO Berlin

♪ July 15 Chopin Piano Concerto No. 2 CD release is projected but details unknown, to be announced

In the wake of the German Culture Radio broadcast (now available on demand), some Nobu fans have asked about the release of a CD mentioned at the time of the Berlin performance.

The May 15 performance with DSO and conductor Ashkenazy in the Berliner Philharmonie was indeed recorded successfully for tracks on CD.

However, the official word is: "CD release is projected but details unknown, or to be announced."

I will keep my ears open on this. Please stay tuned.

This is just for fun while we wait for that CD --

What "filler tracks" would you like to see on a CD with Nobu's Berlin DSO performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2?

Some suggestions that came to mind are Chopin's nocturnes (7, 8, 2, or 20), a Beethoven's sonata ("Moonlight", for example), or the Bach concerto.

What do you think? => Waiting for Nobu's Berlin Chopin Concerto #2 CD ...

Image source: DSO Berlin

♪ July 16  Solving a "Blindfold Puzzle" leads to a YouTube video of Nobuyuki Tsujii

I came upon this post about "Box of Challenge", "a monthly subscription for puzzle lovers"

https://www.mysubscriptionaddiction.com/2017/07/box-of-challenge-subscription-box-review-may-2017.html

... 10% from this box [being reviewed] goes to the American Foundation for the Blind! ...

 the Blindfold Puzzle

This was a really fun task and the QR code for this puzzle leads you to a YouTube video of Nobuyuki Tsujii [the one of him  playing an encore in tears at the Carnegie]  – a blind pianist and composer. This definitely gave us some inspiration and calm vibes for the jigsaw puzzle!

I am not endorsing this product, but I thought  the posting is rather amusing ... and it does show how Nobu's fame is getting around on the web!

July 15 Nobuyuki Tsujii × Fumiaki Miura & Liverpool Phil 2018 Japan Tour

Shinobu Oyashiki san posted this photo of a poster that she spotted in the Nagano hall -- with surprising news --

https://twitter.com/ShinobuOyashiki/status/886085209598210048

来年５月のロイヤルリヴァプールフィルの日本ツアーってこれだったんですね！すごーい😍

The poster shown in the photo announces a performance on May 18, of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic (RLPO) with conductor Vasily Petrenko and Nobu plus his buddy violinist Fumiaki Miura, at the 長野県松本文化会館 Nagano Matsumoto Cultural Center (2,000 seats). This is the first detail revealed about the May 2018 Japan tour mentioned on the orchestra's site.

I did a quick search on the web and nothing more came up about the concerts, but I did find a tour (the tourist kind) announcement that originates from Liverpool, apparently aimed at U.K. & U.S.travelers.

http://maestrotouring.com/music-arts-tours/216

Liverpool Philharmonic Japan Tour

Join us for a visit to Japan at one of the most pleasant times of year to visit the country and with the added bonus of two concerts with Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Vasily Petrenko.

Final dates and itinerary are currently being prepared and we will publish the complete tour details and costs by mid July.

It sounds like details of the tour are being finalized, and we should be hearing more very soon. So, please stay tuned.

♪ July 13 Berlin performance NOW AVAILABLE ON DEMAND on German Culture Radio

The entire Berlin concert broadcast can now be heard on demand on this page =>

http://www.deutschlandfunkkultur.de/vladimir-ashkenazy-beim-deutschen-symphonie-orchester-gern.1357.de.html?dram:article_id=391072

There is a grey "Beitrag hören" button on top left as well as a little orange-colored button at the bottom right of Ashkenazy's photo, labeled HöREN to click to start the playing. 

If those buttons don't respond to your click, then you may need the latest Flash media player for the buttons to work, which can be easily and safely installed here =>  https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

It is a beautiful concert.  Nobu did a wonderful job, but the other works are also worth listening to, as I remembered from being in the concert hall.

I wrote the German Culture Radio asking about the concert broadcast, and they promptly replied. What gracious people they are!

♪ July 13 May 15 Berlin performance heard on German Culture Radio

Below is a partial recording of the broadcast, made for the benefit of those who cannot otherwise listen to it. 

I had assumed  that the recording, like other programs aired on that Germany radio station, can be heard on demand for up to 6 months. 

But I checked that page just now, and it seems this particular program is somehow NOT in the replay list after all!   So I am glad that this recording was made. (Wiping sweats)

On this partial recording: Nobu's performance starts at 20:35. Chopin 2: mvt 1 23:40, 2nd mt 37:29 and 3rd mvt 40:05; encore 55:20

The recording is at this link directly, or click the arrow in the photo below => https://soundcloud.com/user-77000641/nobuyuki-tsujii-ashkenazy-2017-chopin-2-in-berlin 

I wish I understood what is said by the German announcer.  Nobu is mentioned many times and I caught "Lang Lang", probably along the line of "Nobuyuki Tsujii is as popular as Lang Lang in Japan".

More at => Germany Cultural Radio Broadcast on July 13, 2017

Click on the orange-colored "LIVE STREAM" button at top of the page to listen, when the time comes (July 13 20.00 Germany time).

20:04 in Berlin is 11:04 in California, 3:04 in Japan.

Afterward, the broadcast is listenable for up to half a year at the Mediathek link on this page =>

http://srv.deutschlandradio.de/themes/dradio/script/aod/index.html?audioMode=2&audioID=3&state=

More at => Germany Cultural Radio Broadcast on July 13, 2017

A paragraph from the description:

Nun begleitete er in diesem Werk mit "seinem ehemaligen" Deutschen Symphonie-Orchester einen zwei Generationen jüngeren Kollegen. Nobuyuki Tsuji stammt aus Japan, gilt als eines der großen Nachwuchstalente aus dem immer noch "klassik-begeisterten" Land und hat schon mit vielen renommierten Orchestern zusammen gespielt. Auch beim DSO Berlin war er bereits zu Gast. Tsuji ist nicht nur Pianist, sondern komponiert auch.

In this work, he (Maestro Ashkenazy) brought to "his former" Deutsches Symphony Orchestra a colleague who is two-generation younger. Nobuyuki Tsuji hails from Japan, is considered one of the great newcomers from the "classical-inspired" country and has already performed with many renowned orchestras. He was also a guest at DSO Berlin. Tsujii is not only a pianist but also a composer. 

Not only will it be of interest to compare Nobu's performance of Chopin 2 in Berlin and in Sydney (only days later with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra & Bramwell Tovey), but the symphonic works under the baton of Vladimir Ashkenazy are exquisite.   

♪ July 13 Second segment of "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" TV series aired

7月13日 July 13

#2 ライブラリアン：松岡豊（まつおか・ゆたか）

Librarian: Yutaka Matsuoka

It explains what an orchestra's music score librarian does to prepare for a concert.

Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration -- Part 2

Nobu appears in some frames, including quick takes of him performing Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 with the Yomiuri Nippon Orchestra and conductor Neil Thomson in May.

Some still photos

PHOTO: In performance of Chopin 1

PHOTO above: Mrs Tsujii, Toru-san and Nobu. Toru-san has just served them the bowls of soup as appetizer.

PHOTO above: Mrs Tsujii, Nobu, and Mrs.Takahashi at the table.The dishes in front of them are seafood pasta prepared by Toru-san.

PHOTO above: Nobu holding a glass of wine. Toru-san wrote that he admires Nobu's leather jacket

♪ July 10 Nobu footage shown on Asahi-TV "30 ways to bring up a genius child" program

Last night in Japan there was a show on TV about parents who bring up genius children.

Nobu and his mother Itsuko Tsujii are one of the cases presented.

Below is footage from the show of the part. In the footage: Nobu and mother Itsuko talk about Nobu's upbringing, to the showing of still photos and videos from when Nobu was a child.

Then there is a lightning quick clip showing Nobu performing with violinist Mone Hattori (another subject on the show) perform the main theme of "Sanada Maru" (a popular 2016 TV drama series in Japan) on their recent Ultimate Concerto Japan tour.

♪ July 9 Russian article "THE PHENOMENAL JAPANESE PIANIST WILL PERFORM IN VLADIVOSTOK"

An article appeared in the «Приморская газета»"Maritime newspaper" bi-weekly newspaper of Russia

http://primgazeta.ru/news/phenomenal-japanese-pianist-will-perform-in-vladivostok

I made a translation of the piece, which starts as follows =>

THE PHENOMENAL JAPANESE PIANIST WILL PERFORM IN VLADIVOSTOK

Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji will make his first appearance at the Seaside Mariinsky Theater at the second International Far East "Mariinsky" festival, said "Maritime newspaper" referring to the press service of the theater. The symphonic headliner of the festival - a unique concert with the participation of Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji, who will perform for the first time in Vladivostok. This artist of the highest rank has become a phenomenon in the world of classical music, proving by example that talent can overcome boundaries and obstacles.

Please read the complete translation here => Nobuyuki Tsujii; Back to Russia August 2017

♪ July 6 First segment of "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" TV series aired

As advertised, the first segment is about piano tuner Mr. 執行直Nao Shigiyō, highly respected piano tuner [in Japan] . Although Nobu is not the focus, it is evident that the video was made with care and of great quality. The mutual respect between Nobu and this piano tuner (I believe it is said that they have been together for 10 years) is wonderful, and the theme music composed by Nobu is lively and interesting.

Below are some still photos taken from the video, which should be available in due time => "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" TV series

Photo: Nobu and his piano tuner of over 10 years.

Photo: Nobu shown seated by the Steinway piano on which he is to perform.

More at => "Nobuyuki Tsujii Behind the Scenes of Inspiration" TV series

♪ Three performances of "Music and Painting Concert" in Tokyo area  announced

http://www.geigeki.jp/performance/concert121/

http://www.ints.co.jp/tsujii-music-art2017/index.htm

2016年の東京公演は大絶賛を受け、再演の希望が数多く寄せられ、

遂に、2017年秋・初の日本ツアーの実施が決定しました！

Tokyo performance in 2016 received great praise; many people expressed hope of replay.

Finally, we decided to implement the first Japanese tour in autumn 2017.

This is the "Music and Painting -- Piano × Art" concert tour, on which Nobu performs music composed by himself as well as masterpieces by Debussy, Ravel, Chopin, under the images of paintings projected on a large screen. Three performances in Tokyo have just been announced; in addition to previously announced shows in Saga, Nagasaki and Aomori.

♪ September 24 13:30 Kochi Prefecture Cultural Hall  <= NEW GIG

This must have been announced somewhere, but it only just now came to my attention

http://www.toyota.co.jp/jpn/sustainability/social_contribution/society_and_culture/domestic/tcc/2017/kochi/

ラフマニノフ（ピアノ協奏曲第２番ハ短調）／他 ［独奏・独唱］辻井伸行(ｐ) ［指揮］澤和樹 ［演奏］四国フィルハーモニー管弦楽団 ［出演］他

トヨタコミュニティコンサート ｉｎ 高知

2017/9/24(日)

13:30 開演 ( 12:45 開場 )

会場：高知県立県民文化ホール オレンジホール (高知県)

Ｓ席 3,000円

Ａ席 2,000円

Rach 2 with conductor Kazuki Sawawa and Shikoku Philharmonic Orchestra

30th anniversary concert

Tickets are available and very inexpensive: 2000-3000 Yens (20-30USD), and have already come on sale since July 1=>  PIA outlet