Famend soloist Congyu Wang could also be Singaporean however his skills have gone properly past regional boarders. The internationally famend musician has garnered vital acclaim with a repertoire of abilities that features recitalist, accompanist and chamber musician. LUXUO speaks to the multi-hyphenate on his plans to develop the appreciation of classical music to a brand new era, the highs and lows of his profession to date and Wang even recounts a number of tête-à-têtes he had that formed his journey alongside the best way.
What impressed you to pursue a profession in music and who has been crucial affect in your musical profession?
My largest musical affect got here from my trainer Jean Marc Luisada. He was the one who taught me learn how to love music once more. The standard beginnings of how I began my musical journey in France is a reminder to myself to by no means take something as a right. I by no means misplaced the drive to maintain difficult myself to play new repertoire, to journey to new locations and to find new methods to advertise music.
Which performances or recordings are you most happy with?
That is actually laborious to decide on. I lately recorded a sequence of my very own unique compositions on Apple Classical. I’m working very intently with my music producer Chris Craker who produces music for Hans Zimmer and Christopher Nolan. One thing that’s exterior of what I normally do, I’m very excited for the discharge of those new recordings!
Which works or composers do you suppose you carry out finest?
Within the final season, I performed plenty of Rachmaninoff, because it was the a hundred and fiftieth anniversary. I like to play the classical repertoire, Beethoven, Mozart, Chopin, Liszt however I might suppose I’m extra snug with Ravel, Debussy, Gershwin, and Rachmaninoff.
What do you do off-stage that gives inspiration on stage?
I journey loads. I carry out six or seven occasions a 12 months on Seabourn, an ultra-luxurious cruise line. I discover inspiration by way of different cultures, immersing myself in new environments every time I journey. I attempt to preserve an open thoughts actually. My favourite quote by Ibn Battuta goes, “Travelling, it leaves you speechless, then turns you right into a storyteller”.
How do you address lengthy piano rehearsals?
Lengthy hours on the piano is one thing no pianist can escape from. One has to seek out the best method to be taught music, by understanding the features of the thoughts and the connection between the thoughts and the physique. Lengthy hours on the piano is also very damaging to the physique, particularly the again. I attempt to keep match by figuring out a number of occasions per week even when I’m travelling.
How do you make your repertoire selections from season to season?
I’ve a protracted listing of music I’ve all the time needed to carry out, this listing might final me a lifetime. I attempt to change my repertoire every season like how a restaurant would change its menu. I additionally usually embrace music that speaks to the viewers, as an example, I might play Butterfly Lovers if I’m going to tour in Asia or I might play Rhapsody in Blue if I’m going to carry out in LA.
You might be Singapore-born however have change into a citizen of the world. Do you will have a favorite live performance venue to carry out in?
I don’t have a specific favourite live performance venue in thoughts. I actually take pleasure in sharing my music with folks, be it on a cruise, in a live performance corridor, or in a museum. I’ve performed in hospitals, outdated people houses, and even prisons. I like to do new issues. In the course of the pandemic, I did a sequence of reside live shows out in nature. I carried out on the Croatian Nationwide Archives, on the Monastère de Sant Pere des Rodes (The place they filmed Sport of Thrones), on the Iuvanum in Pescara, and on the Royal Palace of Godollo in Budapest. Each venue is magical and creates fantastic reminiscences which are distinctive and life-changing.
What are the best challenges you will have confronted in your profession to date?
Once I first got here again to Singapore, I needed to do my Nationwide service. The largest problem for me was to get again on observe after these two years. I needed to begin over once more.
What could be accomplished to develop classical music’s viewers?
I consider there’s a new wave of music lovers particularly within the new era. The long run belongs to them! My job as a performer is to make sure that the artwork kind and the traditions of reside performances proceed to remain related in our society. My final live performance this 12 months on the Victoria Live performance Corridor was bought out, an enormous enchancment from my earlier go to in 2022. Selling music on social media has performed an enormous half in that, nevertheless to develop classical music audiences on a nationwide stage would contain colleges and academic companions to actively train younger kids to take pleasure in music.
Are you able to recount a memorable piano live performance efficiency?
My most memorable efficiency can be on the Cirque de Mafate, a caldera created by a volcanic collapse. This live performance was held up the mountains above 1400m altitude and the one method to get there was by mountain climbing as there have been no roads. The organisers needed to transport the piano tied to a helicopter. To my shock greater than 500 folks confirmed up at this live performance during which I carried out Frédéric Chopin’s 4 Ballades at the hours of darkness after midnight.
What impressed you to put in writing the autobiography, The Wandering Pianist?
Once I first began penning this guide, lots of my pals have been baffled. They have been asking me if I had sufficient phrases to fill a guide and if I used to be too younger to be writing an autobiography. To be sincere, I wasn’t certain of myself both. I wrote most of this guide between airports, on flights to completely different live shows. Most of the chapters are primarily based on actual life situations, or flashbacks that got here to me whereas touring. I by no means knew how laborious it was to complete writing a guide — I used to be including chapters days earlier than the publishing date.
I used to be invited to a dinner two years in the past in Paris on the Hood (The one Singaporean Restaurant in Paris) and was launched to Sharon Au and Anthony Chen. On this restaurant there was a piano, I performed a number of nationwide day songs and we chatted till late hours of night time. I used to be satisfied that night, by my childhood tv hero and Singapore’s most embellished movie maker, that I used to be going to place my story to paper.
What are the strengths that make you an amazing musician?
I consider that I’m pushed to do the issues I do as we speak, due to what I had gone by way of in Paris. Compassion for folks I consider.
How vital is it so that you can be a Steinway Artist?
It’s by far the perfect factor that has occurred to me since I began studying the piano. The dream Instrument. The dream Sound. The fantastic folks inside Steinway who’ve helped me get to the place I’m as we speak. My Steinway Household, what extra can I say?
What accomplishments do you see your self attaining within the subsequent 5 to 10 years?
Actually 10 years is a very long time. I want to see a complete new era of music lovers arising. In that point I might have carried out on all six continents, 10 occasions and I might have began my new piano faculty in Shanghai!
Apart out of your particular relationship with France, do you will have any hobbies or pursuits exterior of music?
I really like cooking and I really like visiting new locations — particularly eating places.
What recommendation would you give to younger, aspiring musicians?
At each level in my profession, I’ve heard folks saying “have a look at this man, have a look at that man” or “this new era is so…., the subsequent era goes to be so….., however nobody can outline the longer term. My recommendation is to do what you like, don’t look left or proper, and don’t hearken to recommendation that you don’t want to hear, do it now.
For extra on CongYu Wang, head to his social media platforms and his official web site:
Web site: www.pianoislandfestival.com
Fb: www.fb.com/pianoislandfestival
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wang_congyu/?hl=en
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