Renowned pianist Antonio Gonzalez has his perception of being satisfied
The Armenian spectators were waiting for the renowned Italian pianist Antonio Gonzalez’s concert in Yerevan since last spring. The solo concert of the musician with Armenia’s Philharmonic Orchestra (artistic director, Edward Thopchyan) was scheduled for May 2, 2014, but for some reasons it did not take place.
The musician is in Yerevan. “Aravot” met with him. With regard to the failed concert, the pianist said that the cause of not arriving in Armenia was his mother’s untimely death. Today, the pianist in Yerevan by the invitation of directorate of the Opera house, and the Director Marina Sargsyan is conducting negotiations with him still since last year.
Antonio Gonzalez mentioned that though this is his first time in Armenia, but partly he is familiar, in his own words, with the centuries-old culture of Armenians. He noted that although it is the centennial of the genocide this year, but the pain will never be comforted, no matter how many centuries after.
Our interlocutor, talking about the Armenian musical culture, confessed that he loved Khachaturian’s music since childhood, and today, teaching at the Kozentsa Conservatory of his birthplace, he introduces his students to the Khachatryan arts, especially the “Toccata” work, which occasionally found its place in its repertoire.
Half-jokingly and half-serious, we stated that he highly appreciates the art of the Armenians composer, while music commentators of prestigious journals, including, «New York Post» and «Los Angeles Times» newspapers, when presenting him, always state unique play of Gonzalez pianist’s Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2. “Together with the Yerevan National Opera and Ballet Theatre Orchestra, under conductor Karen Durgaryan, I am going to play the works of Rachmaninoff. I repeat, I appreciate the culture of Armenians, but I have a special love to the art of Russian composers, Mussorgsky, Tchaikovsky and others. As for Rachmaninoff, yes, I feel warm attitude towards his work. He was a virtuoso pianist and a wonderful composer. I feel pain that he has been constantly exposed to criticism by his colleagues as a composer, although in the last 20 years, he was accepted and respected,” informed the pianist.
To our interest of how his country’s support is expressed for the artists, Antonio Gonzalez replied that Europe, particularly Italy, are experiencing hard times, an economic crisis, due to which, the state orchestra have suspended their activities, many high quality musicians are unemployed, and the state, being concerned about their fate, has included the classes of piano, violin, flute and other instruments in the secondary schools from the first grade as a mandatory teaching.
To the observation that the economic crises probably do not affect only the show-business representatives, and perhaps, this is the reason why some of the well-known representatives of the classical music appear in the show business, the pianist replied, “I am not against the show-business. Luciano Pavarotti was the first in Italy who started to cooperate with also popular artists of different music trends and styles. For example, the world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Man is cooperating with Sting, others with… I also sometimes spend pleasant moments with well-known show business representatives in narrow circle, but I do not come out to the big stage…”
The musician said that he is not fascinated by the luster, mansions, planes and limousines of the show business. “I play on the piano since at the age of seven, I was fortunate to study with famous professors, I have received prestigious awards, including the Franz Liszt (1992) competition. I am constantly invited to festivals and competitions as a jury member. My creative life on the stage over 25 years showed that I am expected and desired to European and American famous orchestras and prestigious halls. I am a founding director of the International Academy after Franco Ferrari, where young musicians are trained. I do not refuse any invitation to take part in charity concerts. Isn’t this a fortune? … I am fortunate rather than rich.”
Samvel DANIELYAN
