When 18-year-old pianist Yunchan Lim stunned the world at the 2022 Van Cliburn Competition, audiences saw a once-in-a-generation talent whose playing combined a rare poetry with ferocious technique. But Lim’s artistry didn’t come from nowhere. This is a musician who,
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The Music of Poetry
Pablo Neruda: “Odes to Common Things” April 25th, 2021The Chilean poet and politician Pablo Neruda (1904-1973) wrote four volumes of odes to ordinary objects. Among them are odes to salt, a chair, a table, socks, and soap, among others. “I have a crazy, crazy love of things,” he -
On ‘Letting Go’ as a Musician
Part 2 – Letting Go of Criticism and Negative Feelings April 25th, 2021In my first article, I discussed how musicians can judge when it’s time to ‘let go’ of a piece of music and decide it is ready for performance or should be put aside for a while. In this second part -
Rediscovering Clichés in Classical Music April 24th, 2021 There are always pieces that classical music lovers have heard so many times to the extent of finding them annoying. Yet I’d like to invite you to re-visit some of them and perhaps you will discover something interesting! Bach: Toccata -
Best Songs in C Minor April 24th, 2021 When I was a little girl, my parents took me to the Cathedral in Hong Kong. I just loved that huge space that seemed to have so many memories. But what was really fascinating was the fact that it was -
Ophélie Gaillard Cellist: Queen of Versatility and Invention April 23rd, 2021 Cellist Ophélie Gaillard is a marvel. Her many recordings, indicate a versatility that is rare and includes everything from solo Bach on Baroque cello, to Brahms Sonatas, concertos, collaborations with dancers, accordion, bandoneon, and singers, and playing in a tree! -
Music as Consolation April 23rd, 2021 Not just in times of lockdown or isolation, music is the invention that comforts us. During this pandemic, I have had ample time to discover new music that helps me to relax. I’ve found that it is early music that -
Piano Music in the Key of C April 22nd, 2021 The key of C major. It’s the beginner’s key signature and usually the first scale that early piano students learn. (In fact, Chopin considered it the most difficult scale to play and instead liked to begin his students with the -
Sigismond Thalberg and Cecchina Lablache
“The Glass Coffin With the Ermine Cape” April 21st, 2021In the preface to his L’art du chant appliqué au piano, the distinguished virtuoso pianist and composer Sigismond Thalberg (1812-1871) states that he took voice lessons from a famous singer in his youth. That famous singer turned out to be