Now, I could say that there are only two professions which I will never hesitate to throw myself on the spot - a musician or a journalist.
Piano - I have once dreamed too much
Aged 5, I got a piano as a birthday gift from my loving mum, an object seems too much bigger than me. I liked it and played it and as well most probably if I was not mistaken - I showed off in front of all my mates.
But this is not enough, of course, under the guidance of this 30-year-old, most generous and rigorous lady, my mum would provide me everything that could lead me to be a true musician.
There is no problem with my mum, my dad or my entire family. But I was stumbling, I was confused, and I got lost with my mind, my fingers, or more precisely, my talent.
I have got talent, I know that, but it has never enough. From the bottom of my heart I know my limit and always, so I tried very hard to show people different side of me.
When I was 16-year-old, I was fiercely determined to go for an English Speaking Contest in my high school - one of the eight best English teaching records boarding schools across mainland China.
I was excited to be on stage, I knew I was going to make my day...At the end I didn't won but I have landed an offer as a second.
I didn't complain as I have more than enough reasons to freak out because I would never forgot the hours and hours practice in front of mirror in the bathroom from my mum's flat.
What is this? What is this to back me to the hilt for practising hours and hours long? I didn't know, I was too young to pursue the answer, or maybe I just simply don't care.
Life continues until I obtained my Proficiency Level Ten in Piano Performance. Then there are two ways in front of me - being a music student at a music college or go to a normal University studying a normal subject - I knew I had been at a crossroad.
Finally, I chose to lead a normal life - on that moment and that place - Chongqing, China, 2001.
Malta, back to piano
2003, I left to Malta, aged 19. My mind started to regret. I once anxiously asked my young and talented Maltese piano teacher:"How do you think if I study music?""Oh, well, you have good technique, but you know..."
I have got very little sleep, and every single night I can only sleep for two hours worrying where my piano could end up, and then it lasts for more than half an year. Have I got a flicker of hope?
It was the first time in my life that I started worrying about my profession, but it was so vogurous even I did not understand.
In the meantime I started pursuing my Communication studies at Uni. Malta, I started to learn all the aspects of Media, Communication theories, and then political science as my second major.
I was tirelessly absorbing EU integration, UN founcationality, International co-operation these seems quite posh concepts, in that little island in the Mediterranean. I tried so hard to integrate with local students and get myself deeply involved into uni. life.
And then, my piano was back into right track and I know where I am going and what I can achieve. A warm smile back to my cheek.
I talked, talked, and talked all these things, and almost everything to my soul mate - a nice maltese chap, with a gentle personality and a kind heart. And of course, a good musician, much better than me.
Four and an half years living in Malta, I was nearly used to that island, that little island. But I know there is always the other half of me to keep my eyes open, my curiosity alarming, and my goals settling.
I joined AIESEC Malta, travelled and interned in India, Kolkata, though I was a marketing researcher in that Indian org, but it's more of a cultural exchange programme.
I was once considering about Marketing as my profession, but do I truly wish to be a sales person? I am not saying being a sales person is something wrong, it's just I was wondering do I really possess that passion, that eager motivation just as the apprentience of Sir Alan Suger?
EU integration summer school and "The image of Europe" meeting along with the trip to Brussels open another world to me, a world which is fundamentally clashed with my culture, mentality and the way I was brought up.
Is it good or bad? To date I am still searching the answer.
London, a new start
Pursuing journalism as a professional career in London is the toughest challenge I have ever met. It's not because I haven't got the motivation, the drive, the dedication or curiosity, it's simply just because of my English is holding me back.
Andy, the news writing teacher from News Associates, NCTJ course centre
Will continue...
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Showing posts with label piano. Show all posts
Tuesday, 26 May 2009
Tuesday, 11 March 2008
To Appreciate Classcial Music at Budapest Spring Festival
Are you interested in classical music? Are you eager to hear a master’s world-class performances? Are you passionate to explore Eastern Europe’s cultural heritage capital – Budapest?
If all of the answers are “Yes”, I have great news for you! Come to the Budapest spring festival, which will be held from 14th to 30th March, 2008.
Piano Recitals
The famous chain bridge is ready to welcome all of the classical music lovers from different parts of the world.
The festival will feature a few of the most prominent and outstanding young musicians, who will mainly perform Liszt, Brahms, Bartok, and Chopin.
There will be a piano recital by Mariko Nakayama on the 21st March, at 7:00 p.m. in the Marble Hall of the Hungarian Radio.
She is the most successful participant of the Franz Liszt Seminar in Sapporo, and winner of multiple piano awards in her native Japan.
The whole programme consists of Bela Bartok’s two Rumanian Dances, OP. 8/A and two Piano SonataS; Franz Liszt’s Dante Sonata and his Variations in B Minor.
“Mariko Nakayama has such a perfect technique and beautiful music sensitivity, She is an extraordinary pianist and has achieved great success with Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.” Director of Franz Liszt Seminar.
Chamber musicians are also very active in performing Chopin for this year’s festival.
A Hungarian genius, the most unbeatable contemporary concert pianist, Tamas Erdi, is dedicating a beautiful Chopin evening to our audience.
Erdi first appeared on a concert podium when he was only 8, since then he has regularly given concerts, played at festivals and been featured on television programmes.
At the age of 15, he played a Mozart piano concerto in the Spring Festival, in the Hungarian Parliament.
At 17, he won the international piano competition in Moscow.
His extraordinary musical talent immediately attracted the world famous professor Leon Fleisher’s attention.
Offered him a 4 years scholarship at Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, and soon regarded him as one of his dearest pupils.
Later on, he received extensive public acclaim from 23 countries.
The recital will be held on 28th, March, at 7: 30 p.m., at the Italian Institute of Culture.
Erdi will perform Chopin studies, F minor, Andantino, D flat major, Allegretto. Grazioso, A flat major, Allegretto, the ones left unmarked by opus numbers were composed for the piano school in 1840.
Waltzes in A flat major, B minor and E minor, op. 69, No. 1, 2.
Nocturnes in C minor, E minor and C sharp minor, op. 72, No. 1, Chopin: Fantaisie Impromptu, op. 66.
Orchestra Concerts
Orchestra lovers also have the opportunities to appreciate various orchestra concerts.
The concert by National Philharmonic Orchestra features Béla Bartók’s most well-known work Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and the violin concerto.
It will be held in the Palace of Arts -- Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, on the 25th March, at 7:30 p.m.
Bartók is the most controversial musician in the 19th century.
Though in the contemporary period, people consider that no other composers like him is able to produce work in which folk, and art music were assimilated with such power and modernity.
He was not a first composer to write “Hungarian” Classical music, but, whereas Brahms and Liszt had written pieces in a style that was Hungarian in atmosphere rather than substance.
Bartók marked a clear break with tradition by treating his folk melodies and rhythms as truly raw materials, emphasizing their “primitive” elements.
On the other hand, though his music was often aggressive and harsh, its essential language did not diverge completely from tonality, and the structural principles of his greatest compositions.
Barnabás Kelemen’s Bartók violin concerto brings audience the alternative interpretation, his warm and velvety music works beautifully.
Especially in the middle movement where his effortless solo voice works its best free-form magic.
His technical prowess amazes throughout – whether the fiery ostinato scale/mode-passages or the dozens of near violent double stops.
Apart from this fabulous Bartók evening, the Budapest Festival Orchestra will dedicate to our audience Beethoven’s piano concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58.
This piano concerto tends to be presented as a piece of coiled energy eventuating in unbridled excitement.
The great interpreter of No. 4 piano concerto, pianist Radu Lupu will guide you to this subdued tone poem.
His superlative technique, a strong and intelligently used left hand, effective pedalling all keeps his tone warm, and unfailingly delivers you the original inflected conception of Beethoven music.
The concert will be held at 7:45 p.m., on the 27th March, in the Academy of Music.
Church Music Concerts
Church music concerts are another focus during the festival, plenty of works are from J.S Bach.
J.S. Bach is no wonder the greatest composer before Mozart, and arguably the greatest ever.
On one level, his music is an example of supreme craftsmanship – he mastered with mathematical precision the formal problems of counterpoint,
And produced keyboard music in which as many as five different voices of argument are simultaneously sustained.
Organist Erich Türk will perform Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552; O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622; Mozart: Andante in F major, K 616.
Franck: Chorale in A minor; Hans Peter Türk’s variation, Chorale prelude, Elegy. The concert will be held at 8:00 p.m. at University Church, on the 29th March.
Getting there
Denis Moriaty of Ace Study Tours offers the whole holiday package of visiting Budapest.
Totally cost £1,590, including flight by British Airway, hotels, all performances, breakfast, dinner or lunch, excursions, and admission.
The trip will start from 26th of March until 30th of March.
Not include: travel insurance, single room supplement £250.
Further information please visit:
http://www.acestudytours.co.uk/l/tours.subject/Music
Daytime tours
In between the concerts, Denis Moriaty of Ace Study Tours will guide you to explore the Budapest’s music legacy with visits both to the Liszt Memorial Museum.
And the Béla Bartók Museum. Budapest's art and architecture will also come under review: the Museum of Fine Arts is home to an extensive gallery of Old Masters.
Where to stay
We stay throughout in the centre of Budapest at the four-star K&K Opera Hotel, close to the celebrated Opera House.
Where to eat
We will eat at the four-star K&K Opera Hotel, also including daily arranged
restaurant.
More festivals
Budapest Autumn Festival, for more information please see:
http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/calendar_of_events/budapest_autumn_festival_2008
If all of the answers are “Yes”, I have great news for you! Come to the Budapest spring festival, which will be held from 14th to 30th March, 2008.
Piano Recitals
The famous chain bridge is ready to welcome all of the classical music lovers from different parts of the world.
The festival will feature a few of the most prominent and outstanding young musicians, who will mainly perform Liszt, Brahms, Bartok, and Chopin.
There will be a piano recital by Mariko Nakayama on the 21st March, at 7:00 p.m. in the Marble Hall of the Hungarian Radio.
She is the most successful participant of the Franz Liszt Seminar in Sapporo, and winner of multiple piano awards in her native Japan.
The whole programme consists of Bela Bartok’s two Rumanian Dances, OP. 8/A and two Piano SonataS; Franz Liszt’s Dante Sonata and his Variations in B Minor.
“Mariko Nakayama has such a perfect technique and beautiful music sensitivity, She is an extraordinary pianist and has achieved great success with Liszt’s Second Piano Concerto with the Sapporo Symphony Orchestra.” Director of Franz Liszt Seminar.
Chamber musicians are also very active in performing Chopin for this year’s festival.
A Hungarian genius, the most unbeatable contemporary concert pianist, Tamas Erdi, is dedicating a beautiful Chopin evening to our audience.
Erdi first appeared on a concert podium when he was only 8, since then he has regularly given concerts, played at festivals and been featured on television programmes.
At the age of 15, he played a Mozart piano concerto in the Spring Festival, in the Hungarian Parliament.
At 17, he won the international piano competition in Moscow.
His extraordinary musical talent immediately attracted the world famous professor Leon Fleisher’s attention.
Offered him a 4 years scholarship at Toronto Royal Conservatory of Music, and soon regarded him as one of his dearest pupils.
Later on, he received extensive public acclaim from 23 countries.
The recital will be held on 28th, March, at 7: 30 p.m., at the Italian Institute of Culture.
Erdi will perform Chopin studies, F minor, Andantino, D flat major, Allegretto. Grazioso, A flat major, Allegretto, the ones left unmarked by opus numbers were composed for the piano school in 1840.
Waltzes in A flat major, B minor and E minor, op. 69, No. 1, 2.
Nocturnes in C minor, E minor and C sharp minor, op. 72, No. 1, Chopin: Fantaisie Impromptu, op. 66.
Orchestra Concerts
Orchestra lovers also have the opportunities to appreciate various orchestra concerts.
The concert by National Philharmonic Orchestra features Béla Bartók’s most well-known work Duke Bluebeard’s Castle and the violin concerto.
It will be held in the Palace of Arts -- Béla Bartók National Concert Hall, on the 25th March, at 7:30 p.m.
Bartók is the most controversial musician in the 19th century.
Though in the contemporary period, people consider that no other composers like him is able to produce work in which folk, and art music were assimilated with such power and modernity.
He was not a first composer to write “Hungarian” Classical music, but, whereas Brahms and Liszt had written pieces in a style that was Hungarian in atmosphere rather than substance.
Bartók marked a clear break with tradition by treating his folk melodies and rhythms as truly raw materials, emphasizing their “primitive” elements.
On the other hand, though his music was often aggressive and harsh, its essential language did not diverge completely from tonality, and the structural principles of his greatest compositions.
Barnabás Kelemen’s Bartók violin concerto brings audience the alternative interpretation, his warm and velvety music works beautifully.
Especially in the middle movement where his effortless solo voice works its best free-form magic.
His technical prowess amazes throughout – whether the fiery ostinato scale/mode-passages or the dozens of near violent double stops.
Apart from this fabulous Bartók evening, the Budapest Festival Orchestra will dedicate to our audience Beethoven’s piano concerto No. 4 in G Major, op. 58.
This piano concerto tends to be presented as a piece of coiled energy eventuating in unbridled excitement.
The great interpreter of No. 4 piano concerto, pianist Radu Lupu will guide you to this subdued tone poem.
His superlative technique, a strong and intelligently used left hand, effective pedalling all keeps his tone warm, and unfailingly delivers you the original inflected conception of Beethoven music.
The concert will be held at 7:45 p.m., on the 27th March, in the Academy of Music.
Church Music Concerts
Church music concerts are another focus during the festival, plenty of works are from J.S Bach.
J.S. Bach is no wonder the greatest composer before Mozart, and arguably the greatest ever.
On one level, his music is an example of supreme craftsmanship – he mastered with mathematical precision the formal problems of counterpoint,
And produced keyboard music in which as many as five different voices of argument are simultaneously sustained.
Organist Erich Türk will perform Bach: Prelude and Fugue in E flat major, BWV 552; O Mensch, bewein dein Sünde groß, BWV 622; Mozart: Andante in F major, K 616.
Franck: Chorale in A minor; Hans Peter Türk’s variation, Chorale prelude, Elegy. The concert will be held at 8:00 p.m. at University Church, on the 29th March.
Getting there
Denis Moriaty of Ace Study Tours offers the whole holiday package of visiting Budapest.
Totally cost £1,590, including flight by British Airway, hotels, all performances, breakfast, dinner or lunch, excursions, and admission.
The trip will start from 26th of March until 30th of March.
Not include: travel insurance, single room supplement £250.
Further information please visit:
http://www.acestudytours.co.uk/l/tours.subject/Music
Daytime tours
In between the concerts, Denis Moriaty of Ace Study Tours will guide you to explore the Budapest’s music legacy with visits both to the Liszt Memorial Museum.
And the Béla Bartók Museum. Budapest's art and architecture will also come under review: the Museum of Fine Arts is home to an extensive gallery of Old Masters.
Where to stay
We stay throughout in the centre of Budapest at the four-star K&K Opera Hotel, close to the celebrated Opera House.
Where to eat
We will eat at the four-star K&K Opera Hotel, also including daily arranged
restaurant.
More festivals
Budapest Autumn Festival, for more information please see:
http://www.budapestinfo.hu/en/calendar_of_events/budapest_autumn_festival_2008
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