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The pianist’s body10 December 2009
The link between body and music is complex and inseparable. The perception and interpretation of musical works are carried out by the body. Any pianist can tell you: playing the piano involves the entire body and we often push it to the limits. We overuse our body, but what do we give in return?
The pianist’s loneliness11 November 2009
Loneliness is an issue that quite often comes up in discussion with people who know and follow me. I work alone, I play alone, I like being alone most of the time, but isn’t the feeling of loneliness heavy and suffocating? It is true that I don’t meet my friends very often, I am not a big fan of mass meetings and that I avoid crowded places. But in another hand, I like chatting over the phone and mailing them.
One year to change30 October 2009
I know I have not written a post for a while… The recent weeks have been difficult and I had neither the desire nor time to write something. Today I’m going back to my blog after a bad flu which has left me weak and tired. As usual, I didn’t want to go and see a doctor, and that did not help. But here I am, at least partly. Partly, because I’m not playing the piano seriously these days.
On rituals and lucky charms2 October 2009
Last week I wrote here about going on stage and I evoked the “lucky charm”. Today I will focus on pre-concert rituals as well as these charms. Some do not have rituals or lucky charms, and others elaborate complex rituals which become totally obsessive. Star’s whim or real necessity?
Going on stage24 September 2009
Concert evening, in the dressing-room. Tonight, I’ll be playing a recital methodically prepared during the last weeks. Final moments before appearing on stage. Someone is knocking at the door. A glance in the mirror,last check for the presence of our good-luck stuffs and other necessities. It’s time to go. A few more moments to wait backstage, and suddenly the stage manager asks if I’m ready, opens the door, and motions to me to go on stage.
Blog season 2: Independance2 September 2009
It’s been a year already since I started writing this blog. After two months of well deserved rest, I am back on the web, I mean on my blog. It was a sincere pleasure to share my ideas and my wishes with you last year.
Recording is never so easy.18 June 2009
To all those saying that recording is easy, I say, perhaps they should pay a visit to a studio. Of course, you can cut, past, redo, but it is not always an advantage.
The first shock when recording is a bit like the one you feel when hearing your own voice for the first time. Years [...]
My magic place28 May 2009
When I started this blog, I promised to share with you things of my daily life that no one or few see. However, I haven’t showed you the place where I spend most of my time yet.
5 records I can’t live without20 May 2009
After a comment from Piano Agitato in the French version of “The record: a help or a hindrance to artistic creation?”, I have been thinking about the records that have really affected me. Today, I have decided to make a selection of five of these. The choice was hard to make, but I have finally selected them from those I have listened to the most.
Aimez-vous Brahms?15 May 2009
I heard them play for the first time when I was fifteen: It has been a revelation. Sure, it was a recording. I wanted to hear them live, but Oistrakh left us in 1974, so a long time before I was born! Before this famous sonata for violin and piano, I did not like Brahms.