scottsdale_arizona_2011
The following article appeared here in advance of Nobuyuki's last stop on his 2011 spring tour in the U.S.
4/21: Blind piano virtuoso Nobuyuki Tsujii plays in Scottsdale
by Alexander Foote - Apr. 19, 2011 10:51 AM
The Arizona Republic
Nobuyuki Tsujii can see music. To a usual listener, notes can seem pretty or profound, but for Tsujii, they have color and shape because without his eyes to lead him, the blind virtuoso pianist sees with his mind and his heart.
The winner of the prestigious 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition,Tsujii wants others to see music the way he does and invites them to his Thursday, April 21, show at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts. Tsujii spoke via a Japanese interpreter about his upcoming performance.
Question: How has your life changed since winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition?
Answer: Before winning the Cliburn Competition, I was anonymous outside Japan. The Cliburn Competition has changed it dramatically, and I can not thank them too much.
Q: You've been playing since before you could walk. How was growing up with the piano helped your music?
A: Honestly speaking, I don't remember when and how I started playing piano. Piano has been with me, and I feel as if the piano is a part of my body.
Q: You have a unique style of learning new songs. Can you explain it?
A: I learn pieces by listening, but it doesn't mean I'm copying CDs or another person's interpretation. I ask my assistants to make a special cassette tape for me. They split the piece into small sections, such as several bars, and record it hand by hand. I call these tapes "music sheets for ears." It takes me a few days to complete a short piece, but it takes one month to complete a big sonata or concerto.
Q: Do you have anything special planned for the Scottsdale show?
A: Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" has been on the top of my wish list of music to play to the public. As you know, I cannot see pictures like you, but I am used to seeing with the eyes in my heart. My mother often took me to museums and events like fireworks. She explained to me the shape, the color, what it looks like and what it reminds her of. Thus she enriched my imagination and sense about colors and shapes. I learned Mussorgsky was inspired by pictures of one of his friends and composed this piece. I asked my mother to describe each picture to me. It helped me a lot.
Q: In America, there have been many famous blind piano players. Do you take inspiration from them?
A: As I think blindness itself has nothing to do with music, it's no barrier, I don't have special opinions about blind musicians. I believe they'd became famous not because of their blindness but because of the quality of their music, and it deserves respect indeed. Several years ago, by coincidence, I met Mr. Stevie Wonder on Shinkansen, the super express train in Japan. It was thrilling indeed!
Q: You were playing in Japan when the earthquake hit. How are you handling it?
A: We were about 200 miles away from the stricken area, so none of us got injured; nevertheless, we experienced a big and long-lasting shock. It was painful to hear so many people found dead and lost. I express the deepest sorrow for victims and most sincere sympathy for their families. So, I would like to dedicate the concerts on this tour to these people in Japan. I heard many foreign countries had sent rescuers and various support to Japan. It is very much encouraging.