Chinese pianist Zhu Xiao Mei* won an ICMA Special Award 2015 with her Bach recordings for Accentus Music**. ICMA Jury member Nicola Catto has made the following interview with her.
Zhu Xiao-Mei
(c) Martin Hoffmeister / ICMA
I read in your autobiography that “the search for a proper tempo is not confined to the world of music; one must seek it in life as well”. What does it mean?
The question is very intellectual, but I will answer in a simple way. It takes time to find the good tempo: if you play five years, you’ll find it. It is a very important matter, if you have a wrong tempo, people will not follow you. You must be neutral, and this pursue will always be a long one. Read More →
Nikolaj Szeps-Znaider
(c) George Lange
Violinist Nikolaj Znaider has been appointed President of the Carl Nielsen International Violin Competition. Hosted by the Odense Symphony Orchestra, the 10th edition will take place from 16 – 22 April 2016. The competition is open for violinists of all nationalities under the age of 30. The competition’s website is open for registration and application deadline is November 1. Read More →
Dubai Opera, which will be the centerpiece of the Opera District in Downtown Dubai is now set for completion in March 2016, according to its developer, Emaar Properties. The 2,000-seat, multi-format performing arts venue is deeply rooted in Dubai’s maritime history, with the Arabian sailing vessel ‘dhow’ being the inspiration behind the architecture of the building. Read More →
Johannes Brahms: Streichquintett Nr. 2; Antonin Dvorak: Streichquintett Nr. 3; Boris Garlitsky, Jaha Lee, Kyoungmin Park, Georgy Kovalev, Philip Graham; 1 CD Oehms Classics OC 1829; 06/2014 (60'14) – Rezension von Remy Franck
Zusammen mit einem ihrer Lehrer, dem Geiger Boris Garlitsky, spielen vier Stipendiaten der Villa Musica Rheinland-Pfalz Quintette von Dvorak und Brahms. Das ist eine fest zusammengeschweißte Truppe, technisch wie musikalisch makellos. Bei aller Geschlossenheit werden die einzelnen Parts dennoch genauestens verwirklicht. Read More →
Hans Pfitzner: Sonate für Violine & Klavier op. 27; Ferrucio Busoni: Sonate für Violine & Klavier Nr. 2; Anna Sophie Dauenhauer, Violine, Lukas Maria Kuen, Klavier; 1 CD Thorofon CTH2621; 2014 (58') – Rezension von Remy Franck
Das Duo Dauenhauer-Kuen, das uns 2013 mit stimmungsvollen und rhetorisch durchgeformten Interpretationen der Sonate von Pierné und der ‘Vier Skizzen’ von Philippe Gaubert überzeugt hatte, hat, immer noch bei Thorofon, Violinsonaten von Hans Pfitzner und Ferrucio Busoni aufgenommen. Read More →
Günter Hänssler, der das Label Profil gründete, nachdem er das von ihm Hänssler Classic darf sich freuen: Das von ihm mitbegründete Label Hänssler Classic nimmt er wieder unter seine Obhut. Der bisherige Firmensitz von Hänssler Classic in Holzgerlingen wird wieder nach Neuhausen verlegt. Die beiden Labels sollen damit Synergieeffekte für eine optimierte Wirtschaftlichkeit nutzen. Read More →
Das 28. Rheingau Musik Festival meldet Erfolg: Zu den 153 Veranstaltungen an 43 Spielstätten kamen in den vergangenen elf Festivalwochen 106.500 Zuhörer. Bei rund 118.000 verfügbaren Karten entspricht das einer Auslastung von 90,25 %.
New York’s Metropolitan Opera improved its financial results. If last November, the company reported a $22 million shortfall for fiscal 2014, it has a surplus of $1 million in 2015, largely due to box-office revenues, expense reductions as well as pay cuts.
Remy Franck
(c) Bjoern Woll / ICMA
During their Chamber Music festival Spaces of music, from September 17-20 in Gniezno and Poznan, Poland, the Zygmunt Noskowski Foundation organizes the International Conference ‘Polish music – creation, reception, promotion’. The conference comprises workshops for students and graduates in the field of musicology, music theory, culture studies and journalism. Remy Franck, Editor in chief of Pizzicato and President of the International Classical Music Awards, has been invited to hold a lecture and to appear as one of the workshops leaders. Read More →
The ICMA Award 2015 in the category Contemporary music went to a Deutsche Grammophon recording featuring music by Korean composer Unsuk Chin, including the Concerto for Sheng and orchestra, performed by Wu Wei and the Seoul Philharmonic conducted by Myung-Whun Chung. The famous Chinese Sheng player Wu Wei took part in the ICMA Award Ceremony 2015 in Ankara as well as in the Gala Concert. ICMA jury members Serhan Bali, Guy Engels and Mario Vogt met the artist for an interview.
Wu Wei
(c) Martin Hoffmeister / ICMA
Could you please describe your instrument, the Sheng.
The Sheng is the oldest harmony instrument. It exists in China since the 11th century before Christ. Sheng means “something growing up”. In this special case, it is the bamboo growing from the soil. In fact, the instrument consists of bamboo tubes with reeds inside and a wind chest. It’s blown from a mouth piece. The Sheng is based on the same principle as an accordion. Read More →
