How a "traveling musician" spends time in a hotel | Pianist Takahiro Yoshikawa
Now that I have built up my career as a pianist,
Thinking
Currently living in Milan, he is a pianist who continues to perform globally.Takahiro YoshikawaHe often returns to Japan for recitals and concerts. After graduating from Tokyo University of the Arts, he completed his master's degree at the graduate school and moved to Italy. In Italy, he studied under Anita Pollini, a disciple of Alfred Cortot and Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli. Wanting to try playing in an orchestra, he went on to the Academy at La Scala in Milan, and has lived in Milan ever since for 25 years.
Starting with a top prize at an international competition in 2001, Yoshikawa has had a brilliant track record of winning numerous international competitions. More than 20 years have passed since he began his career as a pianist, so we once again asked him the simple question of what the piano means to him. "It's a tool for expressing myself. At the same time, the piano itself is an 'instrument of expression,' so I have to bring out the best in the piano. I guess that's what it is. In terms of cooking, I think it's like the knife and also the ingredients," Yoshikawa says calmly, objectively, with the confidence of a professional.
"I think composers write music scores with the expectation that the piece will be played while having fun, so it's up to the performer to interpret it. There may not be a best way to interpret it. I think the moments that make me happy while playing are when I sense that my thoughts, my interpretation, and the composer's thoughts overlap. Being able to experience that moment is the ideal for a performer."
Yoshikawa has performed in various countries, mainly in Europe, but has there been any major changes in his attitude or feelings towards the piano?
"Well, when I was young, I think I basically placed importance on 'playing well,' but as I got older, I started to place more importance on how to express myself. I used to have a strong competitive spirit, and in places like competitions, playing quickly and without mistakes is what's evaluated, so I think I was conscious of that. It was a world that had nothing to do with my job, or performing on stage as a pianist."
Yoshikawa carefully adds the words "my own expression" as he repeatedly talks about them. "Each composer has their own unique quirks. First-class musicians are not easy to deal with. Right now I am concentrating on performing the works of such composers. I thought that if I just thought about playing well, I would not be able to move or reach many people. I think this is also due to my age. Right now I am interested in following the composer's expression and expressing myself."
What does travel mean to Yoshikawa?
How to spend your time at the hotel
"I've been to many countries, but I haven't really been there with the purpose of traveling. I've mostly visited for piano concerts. Any places that have left an impression on me? There are many, but Galicia in Spain is located in the northwest, and is a place full of greenery that was incredibly beautiful. San Sebastian is also a beautiful city, and I visited it on an orchestra tour, and it left an impression on me. When I go there for a concert, I visit museums, eat food, and enjoy the city itself. I think that the way I spend my time in such places is indirectly connected to my sensibilities and performances."
We also asked Yoshikawa about his most memorable concerts. "It's hard to choose because every concert is memorable. For example, I once performed at a salon in Okinawa, and it was amazing. It was a small gallery, but it was very homey and completely different from a hall." As a performer, performing at a large venue like a hall and performing at a small venue are different feelings, says Yoshikawa. "Originally, the piano was an instrument that was based on salon concerts. In the old days, people would perform at the salons of aristocrats. There were no big concert halls then, either." "Performing in a hall is wonderful, but what's good about a small venue is that you can feel the audience's reaction directly. I often have the opportunity to perform in halls, and both have their own merits."
We are also curious about the hotels Yoshikawa has stayed at for concerts so far. "The most important thing is to be close to the concert venue, but for me, first impressions are important. It's a matter of feeling. I don't like noisy air conditioning. Or background music in restaurants..."But if you think about it, maybe the noise bothers you. But even so, I think it's still comfortable." When asked which of the many hotels he stayed in was the most memorable, Yoshikawa said, "It reminds me of an old hotel I stayed in in Berlin. It was on the top floor, and the room had a slanted ceiling. It was spacious and very comfortable. New, beautiful hotels are nice, but I'm also drawn to hotels with a nostalgic atmosphere."
Yoshikawa-san values his own sensibilities when it comes to how he spends his time at a hotel. Does he have any routines or food preferences that he pays attention to? "I guess I get a good night's sleep. I eat a good breakfast. I usually eat Italian food, but I'll eat anything. I'll eat local delicacies, for example, in Germany the bread is delicious, and I'll basically eat anything. I also love Japanese food."
Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza
A novel concept
In fact, Yoshikawa-san was also the one who performed at the first salon concert at Hotel GrandBach Tokyo Ginza. "I remember it well because it was during the COVID-19 pandemic. The location, Ginza, and the atmosphere of the hotel were great, and I played John Cage's "In a Landscape," and I remember the audience really enjoying it."
We also asked him about his impression of the hotel. "I was surprised at first because I couldn't imagine a hotel based on the concept of J.S. Bach (laughs). Bach's music is wonderful, but after studying it a lot recently, my perspective has changed a lot. Generally, people think of him as someone who composed music for churches, and that it is good for the soul. The atmosphere was also good, but I think food is a big part of the enjoyment of staying in a hotel, so I thought the wellness cuisine offered by Hotel GrandBach was really good. The bar is also very elegant. I'm looking forward to them carefully creating original cocktails for me. The hotel has a refined atmosphere and I think it's a very comfortable hotel." He also talked about the bar, which he often visits.
He then continues to talk about the salon concert at the hotel.A hotel is not just a place to stay, it is also a place to eat, a place to shop, and culture - I think that in the end, these things are important..Listening to music, eating delicious food,Art and music play a major role in enriching people's lives.The salon concerts at the hotel are very attractive to customers.isn't it.'
Listening to and watching what you like while sharing the space. Yoshikawa's words that time spent blissfully enjoying the five senses is what enriches life more than anything else, I agree with him. As a professional musician, he will continue to accumulate more and more sensibility through concerts in various countries and hotels.
■Interviewer & Author:
Naoko Kubo | Wellness & Beauty Journalist / Phytotherapist / Aroma Designer / Ayurvedic Life Counselor
CONTACT US Instagram @naonaonaozou/
photograph:
Tomohisa Ichiki