Monthly Archive: 2021-July

I went to a concert of Chopin’s Nocturnes by Kun Woo Paik at Oji Hall, Tokyo. Chopin’s Nocturnes are generally thought of as sentimental and sensual music that somehow lacks depth. However, Kun-Woo Paik’s Chopin Nocturnes have a unique world that seems to sink and resonate deep within the listener’s heart. A rather small piece of music that lasts only several minutes would have tremendous scope. In addition, he played the delicate melody with a touch that treated each note...

​I went to a concert of Rachmaninoff’s piano and orchestra works with three pianists at Suntory Hall. The orchestra was the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra under conductor Koji Kawamoto. The highlight of the evening was Henri Barda’s performance of the third piano concerto. I had been worried before the performance that the 80-year-old veteran might not be able to play this long and difficult piece in a technically satisfactory manner, but I was completely wrong. I don’t think I have heard...