October, 2008

I arrived quite early on the Thursday morning, hoping that my body would adjust quickly to the time change. I was excited to be back in Paris, ready to play a great show. The weather was beautiful, which certainly helped the cause. The very next day was to be the concert.

When I got to the St. Louis des Invalides, I was taken aback again by the beauty of building and cathedral. The grand salon was pretty breathtaking, with huge paintings and beautiful chandeliers. It was so nice to see the Fazioli again, as I had tried it for a few minutes a few years ago. What caught my attention right away was the enormous sound it could produce...just look at the size of that piano. Now, Steinways tend to be a little heavier and deeper in sound, but Faziolis are a bit brighter in tone. This particular concert grand was capable of some huge sounds. I mean...really huge. I couldn’t wait to try the LIszt out that night.

The concert was sponsored by the Ambassadors of Taiwan and Canada, both of whom were in attendance. If not for their support, along with Madame Elizabeth Josnin (my excellent host) and Madame Christine Helfrich of the Invalides concert series, nothing would be possible. The concert was sold out, and unfortunately a couple of my friends weren’t able to get tickets. However, I did manage to have a few high school friends from Saskatoon make it out! That was the coolest, to see friends from back home. I was so excited to see them, and it was the highlight of my trip.

The performance started with the Bach. I was very focused backstage, and quite calm. The Bach went really well, and I thought that all my English suites danced the way they should. Next were the Ravel pieces, and the piano responded to all that I asked out of it. Debussy was one of my best performances. I remembered that after my run-through in Toronto, people preferred the water music of Ravel (Jeux d’eau) than that of Debussy (Reflets dans l’eau). Well I had to make up for this difference for Paris! So I think Mr. Debussy would have been happy that night. At intermission I felt a bit on the tired side, wondering how I was going to make it through the Liszt sonata. It was strange, in that as soon as I returned to the piano, the energy came from somewhere beyond my knowledge. The Liszt was really powerful. For this sonata you require all your concentration, as well as your physical energy.

The crowd was very excited, as was I. After the sonata I played a rendition of a Taiwanese folk song, basically made up on the spot. I also followed it with my arrangement of the national anthem (October 10th was their national holiday). It was a way for me to show my appreciation for the Embassy’s invitation. After some applause, I thought to myself it was going to be a while before I’d get another chance to play this Fazioli, so I played the Rigoletto paraphrase by Liszt as an encore. All in all, it felt like one of the best recitals I have given in a long time!

The rest of my time in Paris was spent enjoying the sites with my friends from Canada, as well as seeing friends from Paris. I have had a few other experiences on this trip that I’d like to share. One day I was invited to a friend’s place, who happens to be an art-restoration painter for the Louvre and Musee D’Orsay, to name a few galleries. His hands have retouched Picasso, Monet, etc...all of the masterpieces. I went to his apartment which was stuffed with artwork. I think I counted 20 canvases lying against each other from the wall of the foyer, with all these piles covering every wall. I was allowed to get up close and even touch the paintings, most of which were his own. We compared art to music and he certainly was someone to learn from. He told me he needed “to paint, in order to be a man”, and I agreed fully. If we are to have a purpose in this world, it would be to create beauty, or something beautiful. I could write a whole blog about it! 

On an entirely different note, I met a friend to knew one of the owners of Ferrari Spain. Since it was the Mondial Auto Show in Paris, we were invited to enter the Ferrari exhibit. Now although I am more of a bicycle kind of person myself, I was blown away by the chance to be next to these cars. We were able to sit in them, which was something I’ll never forget. It was funny because I told my friend that the Ferrari was the “Fazioli” of all cars!

Well now I am preparing for a concert in Boston with Christopher Shih, as we will play the Poulenc double concerto with the Newton Symphony Orchestra. I had visited the grave of Poulenc (and Chopin, of course), and also saw his room at the Cortot Academy on a previous trip, so I feel ready for some Poulenc. Stay tuned for a preview of this one!