The following article, "le pianiste Nobuyuki Tsujii triomphe dans le concerto de Grieg," appeared on February 14 in "Alsace Latest News." on the news portal http://www.dna.fr/
The original article is in French and can be read here:
http://www.dna.fr/edition-de-strasbourg/2017/02/14/le-pianiste-nobuyuki-tsuji-triomphe-dans-le-concerto-de-grieg
Below is an English translation of the text.
View - STRASBOURG - With the Philharmonic
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Image by Yuji Hori
Romantic music last week at the Strasbourg Philharmonic: Schumann's Rhineland Symphony announced the orchestra's tour in Switzerland and Germany. And the Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji triumphed in Grieg's concerto.
The opening of Berlioz's Corsair introduced the program of the mid 19th century. The start in galloping speed is followed by gentle themes that characterize female figures, which explains the contrasts that the French composer did not try to erase.
OPS to tour soon
The second part features the 3rd symphony of Schumann, written in 1850 when the musician moved from Leipzig to Düsseldorf. The work is a reference to the river near which he moved. Two movements make a precise allusion to it: The second would have been entitled "one morning on the Rhine," and the fourth, the penultimate, had a solemn ceremonial. Some have seen in its theme a figuration of the Gothic arrow of the Cathedral of Cologne.
But even the movements of rapid movements call for fluidity. From Friedrichshafen to Basel and from Düsseldorf to Mannheim, after Strasbourg, the orchestra will do well, judging by its interpretation of the Rhineland.
Grieg's piano concerto in A minor was written when the Norwegian musician was 25 years old. He had worked in Leipzig with Clara Schumann and we found in the first measures a kinship with Schumann's concerto of the same tone. However, Grieg was able to emancipate himself by introducing into his work specific characteristics of the music of his Nordic country.
Prodigy
The evening's interpreter, the Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind, astonished on his first visit to Strasbourg. Marko Letonja led him in thoughtful gestures towards his place, in front of the keyboard. Nobuyuki is the first Asian to have won the Van Cliburn contest eight years ago in the United States, crowning the best of the best.
In the concerto, his interpretation does not lack in power and is also completely identified with the lyrical aspects of the content. On Thursday, the public and the orchestra applauded it, and they were thanked by two encores, the Fir of Sibelius and the famous La Campanella of Liszt. The pianist will also be an asset on the orchestra's Rhine tour.
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(This review is now included in a collection of Critic's Reviews)
The original article is in French and can be read here:
http://www.dna.fr/edition-de-strasbourg/2017/02/14/le-pianiste-nobuyuki-tsuji-triomphe-dans-le-concerto-de-grieg
Below is an English translation of the text.
View - STRASBOURG - With the Philharmonic
The pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji triumphs in the Grieg concerto
Image by Yuji Hori
Romantic music last week at the Strasbourg Philharmonic: Schumann's Rhineland Symphony announced the orchestra's tour in Switzerland and Germany. And the Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsuji triumphed in Grieg's concerto.
The opening of Berlioz's Corsair introduced the program of the mid 19th century. The start in galloping speed is followed by gentle themes that characterize female figures, which explains the contrasts that the French composer did not try to erase.
OPS to tour soon
The second part features the 3rd symphony of Schumann, written in 1850 when the musician moved from Leipzig to Düsseldorf. The work is a reference to the river near which he moved. Two movements make a precise allusion to it: The second would have been entitled "one morning on the Rhine," and the fourth, the penultimate, had a solemn ceremonial. Some have seen in its theme a figuration of the Gothic arrow of the Cathedral of Cologne.
But even the movements of rapid movements call for fluidity. From Friedrichshafen to Basel and from Düsseldorf to Mannheim, after Strasbourg, the orchestra will do well, judging by its interpretation of the Rhineland.
Grieg's piano concerto in A minor was written when the Norwegian musician was 25 years old. He had worked in Leipzig with Clara Schumann and we found in the first measures a kinship with Schumann's concerto of the same tone. However, Grieg was able to emancipate himself by introducing into his work specific characteristics of the music of his Nordic country.
Prodigy
The evening's interpreter, the Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, blind, astonished on his first visit to Strasbourg. Marko Letonja led him in thoughtful gestures towards his place, in front of the keyboard. Nobuyuki is the first Asian to have won the Van Cliburn contest eight years ago in the United States, crowning the best of the best.
In the concerto, his interpretation does not lack in power and is also completely identified with the lyrical aspects of the content. On Thursday, the public and the orchestra applauded it, and they were thanked by two encores, the Fir of Sibelius and the famous La Campanella of Liszt. The pianist will also be an asset on the orchestra's Rhine tour.
-----------
(This review is now included in a collection of Critic's Reviews)