Notable web postings - July 2018

Continued from Notable web postings - June 2018

Older notable web postings are collected at Notable web postings archival

This month's concert

July 14-28 2018 Miura Fumiaki × Nobuyuki Tsujii Duo Recital

♪ July 1 Miura Fumiaki × Nobuyuki Tsujii Duo Recital Tour starts in 2 weeks.

From a posting by the online ticket site pia , purple prose of the highest order ^_^:

しなやかな掛け合いと激しい熱情の交差！ 若い才能の共鳴とぶつかり合いが奇跡の感動を生む！[ A cross between supple bounding and intense passions! The resonance of young talents in collaboration creates a feeling of miracles!]

After a terrific month of June, during which Nobu made waves in Vienna, Tokyo and St. Petersburg, he is back home probably busy getting ready for this tour, which kicks off in two weeks.

There are 8 performances,July 14-28

Program A

July 14 Hokkaido, 16th Osaka, 25th Tokyo, 28th Fukuoka

Fumiaki Miura -- Bach: Violin Partita No. 3

Nobuyuki Tsujii Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight"

Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii Brahms: Violin Sonata No. 1 "Rain song"

Program B

July 18 Shizuoka, 20 Niigata, 22 Yamagata, 26 Tokyo

Miura Miura -- Bach: Violin Partita No. 3

Nobuyuki Tsujii Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight"

Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii Francks's Violin Sonatta in A major

A quick check on Avex's home page for the tour shows that tickets for all 8 performances have sold out, and probably have been so for some time.

The ROYAL STOCKHOLM PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA and their chief conductor Sakari Oramo are holding three special concerts in Suntory Hall on September 2-4 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relation of Japans & Sweden.

There is now a promotional YouTube video featuring the orchestra chief => https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5s9CUW2pOq4

Tickets for all three concerts are still available, including the first one (September 2 Sunday 14:00 Suntory Hall ) in which Nobu performs Beethoven's "Emperor" concerto, for which the most expensive tickets (18000Y) are available.

July 21 「家庭画報」辻井伸行さんに関する記事を読んで "Family Pictorial: Magazine Article

Music writer Yoshiko Ikuma was in Vienna last month to cover Nobu's concerts. This blog post is about her article that just showed up in 「家庭画報」"Family Pictorial", a magazine in Japan.

https://blog.goo.ne.jp/kakippp/e/a6f54785cc63eed3039ddb1257b05eb2

The blogger writes about reading the article, and the post sounds heart-felt.

I share the blogger's sentiment about Nobu and the support that he receives from the people around him. 

Like the blogger, I too feel a vicarious happiness through Nobu:

"He makes me feel happy just as I'm happy with my own child or nephew . 

Mr. Tsujii is a mysterious existence that makes me feel like that."

And I share her sentiment about the support that Nobu gets from people around him

"There are people who reach out to Mr. Tsujii in many ways, Mr. Tsujii accepts their support and heads for higher height.

I think that beautiful air flows around Mr. Tsujii.

Mr. Tsujii's family, teachers, people concerned."

For a translation of the post, please see => "Family Pictorial" August 2018 Magazine article on Nobu in Vienna

♪ Earthquake-tsunami victims

U.S. pianist Linda wrote:

"I sent this [link to a Youtube video recently posted vy EuroArts, of Nobu playing his elegy (for Earthquake-tsunami Victims) in St. Petersburg in 2012] to my teacher this morning. He had not heard this piece before and was impressed. 'Hi Linda, Thanks for Nobu's Elegy. It was (as always )played beautifully. His use of rhythmic and melodic sequence spoke well.' "

I wrote back:

It's always good to hear from a respected voice.  The elegy is another manifestation of Nobu's "Midas Touch" -- everything he touches seems to work out. It has become his best known

composition and, as you know, a video of his playing of it in Carnegie (Pianist in Tears, now over 20 million views) has become his most widely viewed video (and perhaps one of the most viewed classical music pianist videos.) I myself honestly didn't initially take this piece seriously -- it's a nice little work, I thought, but nothing significant. What do I know.

Linda wrote:

... the first time I ever heard this, I wasn’t totally taken by it either. But the more I heard it, the more I grew to like it and really came to understand what Nobu was about in terms of his composing. All of his pieces kind of grew on me that way, and now I love all of them.

I agree. Nobu's compositions strike some people as simplistic, but there is depth in the emotion if not technique, and his honest sincerity always comes through.  His development as a full-fledged composer may take time, but I hope he keeps at it.

Incidentally, I have started reading a book about the 2011s earthquake/tsunami, Ghosts of the Tsunami, by Richard Lloyd Parry.

Mr. Perry is the Asia editor and Tokyo bureau chief of The Times (London) and was in Japan when the disaster struck.

I have not finished reading the book, but his vivid account of the disaster and how it affected the people is terrifying and gripping.

I recommend it.

More from Linda:

"I think back to Nobu being in that concert hall practically alone, and experiencing that earthquake. It had to be one of the scariest moments of his life, and I am sure he will never forget it. And then seeing some of the places that got the worst of the quake must have also been very scary and frightening! To be able to pick yourself up and continue to carry-on and move forward is an incredible act of courage! Nobu shows all of us how courageous he is every day!"

NOTE: When the earthquake struck on March 11 2011, Nobu was on tour in Yokohama with Yutaka Sado and the BBC Philharmonic.  According to subsequent accounts: Nobu and his manager arrived at the concert hall ahead of the orchestra, and was practicing on the piano when the quake struck.  Suddenly Nobu felt the piano move, and Mr. Asano said the chandeliers in the concert halls were swaying. They did not know of the extent of the disaster until Mr. Asano went outside and saw newscasts showing all over the place about the quake and the tsunami.  Meanwhile, the orchestra was on its way and their bus was caught on a bridges that swayed violently.  They had to turn back to Tokyo, but with great difficulty.  Nobu and his manager checked into a local hotel to weather out the night.  The tour had to be called off eventually.  More at Nobu's elegy for Japan's Earthquake-tsunami Victims ...

♪ July 16 Oxford Handbook of Music and the Body by Stefan Sunandan Honisch

In March 2013, Nobu traveled to the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, Canada, where he performed and held meetings.

Among those in the audience was Stefan Sunandan Honisch, doctoral candidate at the UBC Center for Cross Faculty Inquiry in Education.

In the photo above, Mr. Honisch is the gentleman seated in a wheelchair.

Mr. Honisch has since successfully defended his dissertation, "Pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii & the education of the sensorium through musical performance".

Today, I came upon a handbook of Music and the Body published by Mr. Honisch, "Virtuosities of Deafness and Blindness: Musical Performance and The Prized Body," in which Nobu is the subject in one chapter.

"Nobuyuki Tsujii and the Skills of Blindness: Virtuosity as Not Seeing"

This chapter explores the convergence of disability and virtuosity in competitive music performance. Two case studies of the pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii performing Beethoven’s Apassionata and Hammerklavier sonatas in the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition illustrate how the virtuosic body renders both normal and disabled bodies as other within the competitive arena. The critical and popular reception of these performances by Tsujii made much of their staging of a musical encounter between a blind pianist and a deaf composer; Tsujii himself, on the other hand, has publicly declared a more complex relationship to Beethoven as a fellow disabled musician. Exploring blindness and deafness as forms of virtuosity, this chapter shows how musical representations of virtuosity in performance exist in unfixed, dynamic, and even unsettling relationships to normal and disabled senses, bodies, and minds.

More on this at => Nobuyuki Tsujii and publications of Stefan Sunandan Honisch

♪July 13 Boundaries can be overcome

Sorry to inflict this "kawai" (cute) cartoon on you 😉 -- it is among a collection of cartoons posted in an article published by the U.K. Guardian today, cartoons that came up in the wake of the miraculous rescue of the youth soccer team trapped in a flooded cave in Thailand.

I especially enjoy the one below, which depicts so well the massive international efforts that came together to accomplish a mission impossible in real life.

It makes me happy that in the face of adversities, people can indeed overcome boundaries for a worthwhile goal, as so well exemplified by Nobu.

♪ July 11 "We must be grateful that music scores are the gift of our civilization."

Facebook posting by Aria Nova music of Peru:

https://www.facebook.com/1421927621397525/posts/2120341244889489/

[Translated from Spanish]

"The distribution of talent is surprising. Nobuyuki Tsuji, a miracle of nature, is capable of interpreting the most complex music through ear and instructions specially designed for one who has been blind since birth. For him the scores must be translated into spoken instructions and recordings of each hand separately, resulting in a high-level performance borne of dedication and talent. And for us earthlings, some of whom complain about sight-reading music: we must be grateful that music scores are the gift of our civilization."

It makes me happy to know that even in far flung Peru, Nobu's unique way of learning music through "music scores for the ear" -- initiated by his childhood teacher Mr. Masahiro Kawakami -- is understood and appreciated.

♪ July 10 Rain disaster in Japan; daring Thailand cave rescue completed; France advances in World Cup

My heart is heavy about the devastation that heavy rain has wrought in Japan, but reportedly the sun is shining and Nobu's compatriots -- the ever resilient Japanese -- are going about with the recovery efforts.  My best wishes to them.

On the bright side: the ordeal is over for the hapless youth football team trapped for two weeks  in a flooded cave in Thailand after a dramatic international recuse effort that riveted the world, including me.

And, while I remain a neutral observer, congratulations to France for clinching a berth in the World Cup final.

♪ July 10 Nobu to close the 2019 season for Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and conductor Marco Letonja

Speaking of France, today I came upon an announcement of Nobu performing with the French orchestra, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg and conductor Marco Letonja, with whom Nobu toured in February 2017, a smashing success. Apparently the orchestra and the maestro made good on their word and invited Nobu to perform with them again, in their 2018-19 season finale concerts.  Nobu will play Tchai 1, and so far three concerts are known -- two in Strasbourg and one in Cologne, with perhaps more performances to be announced.

More information at => Nobu with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg & conductor Marco Letonja, 2019.

♪ July 7 Carnegie Hall "Single tickets available Tuesday, 8/14/2018 11:00 AM"

It is hard to think ahead to autumn in the midst of this sweltering summer seemingly everywhere on earth, but for those who are interested:

single tickets for Nobu's September 20 performance of Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 2 with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra at the Carnegie Hall will become available on Tuesday, 8/14/2018 11:00 AM, here=> https://www.carnegiehall.org/Events <=On this page, go to September 20 to find a link for tickets, when the time comes.

More about this & other known performances can be found at => Nobu with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra 2018

♪July 6 "Strategy of Avex Classics International, July 2018 interview"

A lengthy article has been posted by Avex, Nobu's record label

https://avex.com/jp/ja/contents/classics-radical-strategies/

It is a interview of mostly the president of Avex International, Mr. Hiroyuki Nakajima, who speaks about his background in classical music, his vision for expanding the audience base with unusual concert programs, and the development of the two star artists: Nobu and Fumiaki Miura.

There are comments by Nobu and Fumi, and several photos of the trio taken in an empty concert hall.

English translation =>Strategy of Avex Classics International, July 2018 interview

♪ July 5 A look at Brahms' "Rain" Sonata

The Brahms sonata is the novelty on the upcoming Fumiaki Miura × Nobuyuki Tsujii Duo Recital, a new addition to Nobu's repertoire.

This work poses considerable challenge to our two intrepid young players.

Read about it, and see a YouTube performance by seasoned virtuosos here => Brahms' "Rain" Sonata♪ July 3 Graciousness and Good Manners

It always gives me a pang to see Nobu, at the end of each performance, make those deep Japanese style bows to audience in different directions.

Here is a photo of Japans' world-cup team players making those bows to their fans after their heart-breaking defeat to Belgium in round of 16.

Their graciousness and good manners has not gone unnoticed: articles about their exemplary good behaviors have shown up in media all over the world, such as the Washington Post, CBS News, the Standard (U.K.), CNN, and BBC.

And, congratulations to England for advancing to the round of eight.

♪ July 2 Japan World-Cup Football Team -- "A credit to their nation."

I am no football fan, but I do enjoy reading about the World Cup matches -- great theater and fierce competition among teams and fans representing different nations.

Very sad that Japan lost to Belgium today in spite of a heroic effort in what many Guardian commentors (not a mild bunch, trust me) consider a great match.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/jul/02/belgium-japan-world-cup-last-16-match-report

"Outstanding game with impressive performances from the entire Japanese team. The Belgian comeback was an amazing combination of luck, power and class. I was gutted for the Japanese."

"It's a side point to a terrific game, but the attitude from the Japanese at the final whistle was superb. They took time to congratulate their opponents and thank their own fans, and that took guts. It's a shame we have to see them go. A credit to their nation."

"What a great game. Japan were amazing. Was there even one yellow card, bad tackle or dive? Belgium made a great recovery but I was rooting for the Japanese. Their attitude puts many other teams to shame. It's what the game should be about. "

Yeah, that's the Japan -- Tsujii-san's nation -- that I respect.

♪ July 3 An Ode to Nobu!

This YouTube video is posted by someone who was moved by seeing Nobus playing the elegy to tsunami victims at the Carnegie Hall

=> https://youtu.be/Zt5jxPZBIQc

It comes with a sonnet in the description

ODE TO TSUJII (a sonnet which is an ode to Japanese pianist, Nobuyuki Tsujii)

When you play your box of white and black keys, colors of every kind cloud my teared eyes.

Your gift is God-given to us on breeze.

Though blind, you see Him in Splendor’s Surprise.

...

♪ July 2 Congratulations to Maestro Vasily Petrenko

A Japanese twitter alerted me to this news item

https://www.rhinegold.co.uk/classical_music/vasily-petrenko-move-royal-philharmonic-orchestra/

The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra (RPO) has appointed Vasily Petrenko as its new music director, taking effect from 2021.

He will become conductor laureate of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, following a 15-year tenure as its chief conductor.

Congratulations to Maestro Petrenko, who has just completed a second successful Japan tour with Nobu (and Fumiaki Miura) in May.

I hope he will keep in touch with Nobu.

♪ July 1 200 Like's

This tweet came up today and has chalked up over 200 like's:

https://twitter.com/sakuranotabi/status/1013584278746091520

「目は見えなくても、心の目は見えているので満足しています」ピアニストの辻井 伸行さんの言葉です。 目が見えているのに、うわべばかりで心の目が閉じていることも多い。静かに目を閉じて、心の目を開けてみると、いつもと違うものが見えるかも。穏やかな調べが聴けるかも

"Although I cannot see with my eyes, I am satisfied because I can see with the eyes in my heart," these are words of Mr. Nobuyuki Tsujii the pianist. Even though I can see with my eyes, too often the eyes in my heart are closed. Close your eyes in quietude, and when you open them, perhaps you may see something different than usual. You may be able to hear a gentle tone.

The accompanying photo is of two luscious pink roses, side by side, in full bloom.

My own favorite quote along this line is from the "Little Prince" by Antoine de Saint-Exupery: "It is only with the heart that one can see correctly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Image by Jacki Kellum