[Translated from Japanese]
Nobuyuki Tsujii Premium Recital 2024
2024-12-18
Energetic keystrokes and pure, beautiful sound - a new frontier revealed in a heavyweight program
This series, called Premium Recitals, is a project that Nobuyuki Tsujii is particularly attached to. He has chosen a small venue where he can get close to the audience, and is performing a heavyweight program. The performance on this night was overflowing with his characteristic positive clarity, and it was a journey toward even greater heights
Photo caption: Nobuyuki Tsujii performs a heavyweight program at the premium recital
Starting with Debussy's "Prints," Tsujii makes use of his hard, clear touch to directly bring out the characteristics of the piece. He clearly brings out the structure of the work, and rather than the esprit or fragrance typical of impressionism, he presents a sharp, well-balanced sound image. The pure singing spirit heard in his first album with the prestigious Deutsche Grammophon label also appears here. This is probably a new frontier for Tsujii.
The next piece is Prokofiev's Piano Sonata No. 7, a difficult piece also known as the War Sonata, and this tour is his first attempt at performing it. Tsujii starts with the sharp, creaking sound of the first movement, Allegro Inquiete, and then pushes forward at a fast tempo. His strongest suit is the energetic keystrokes and impact that bring modernism to the forefront. Unable to withstand the intense keystrokes, a high string of the instrument broke early on. The anxious and gloomy mood of the second movement, which resumed after the emergency repair [by the piano tuner], was depicted neutrally and flowed into the fast-paced third movement.
Beethoven's "Hammerklavier" in the second half was also the deciding piece at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in the United States, where he won in 2009. The choice this time was likely a sign of reaffirming his origins and demonstrating his experience and growth. In Tsujii's hands, even the most difficult piece of all time becomes something that he is happy to overcome. He runs through technical passages powerfully and carefree, and everything from counter melodies to transitional phrases is clear. There is a strong sense of exhilaration. The Scherzo in the second movement is also a powerful effort, and the performance is passed in the blink of an eye. The lyricism exuding anguish and the deeply moving lament of the third movement, Adagio Sostenuto, comes through Tsujii's filter with removal of the bitterness of emotion and is sublimated into a pure and beautiful sound. Tsujii weathered the raging storm of fugue in the final movement with ease, as if cutting through a tangle of complicated problems.
It was an evening in which he tackled the important works of each composer in a way that he believes in, and demonstrated where he is today.
(深瀬満 Fukase Mitsuru) 
Photo caption:
Fifteen years after winning the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition, Tsujii's concert showed where he is now.
PERFORMANCE DATA
Nobuyuki Tsujii Premium Recital 2024
December 17th (Tue) 19:00 Kioi Hall
Program
Debussy: Prints
Prokofiev: Piano Sonata No. 7 "War Sonata"
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 29 "Hammerklavier"
Encore
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 8 "Pathetique" 2nd Movement
Ryuichi Sakamoto: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Beethoven: Piano Sonata No. 14 "Moonlight" 3rd Movement
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