Speaking in another Language–Young Musicians’ Concert

Contemporary Piano and Chamber Music
Date： 2010 April 10th 8:00pm (Sat)
Add： Xi Ba Road No.101 Chuang Ku/LOFT
Price：35RMB
Tel: 4114691；4114692

Participating guests：Reto Reichenbach, Pianist

Reto Reichenbach, Pianist

„…With his playing developed from the inner core and rich in facets, mastering the horrendous technical requirements with unfailing certainty, Reto Reichenbach brought the evening to an artistic climax which led the audience in the sold out concert hall to enthusiastic applause…” (Der Bund, Switzerland)

Reto Reichenbach has been received by the press and audiences as a musician whose interpretations are particularly intense and sincere. A special focus of his work is directed to the 20th century repertoire, which is reflected in his success at the international 20th century piano competition in Orléans, France (2nd overall prize and “Nadja Boulanger” prize for the best performance of a work from 1900 to 1950). Furthermore, Reto Reichenbach was prizewinner at the international piano competition of the city of Cantú, Italy. For his artistic accomplishments he was given the “Outstanding Young Person Award” by the Swiss Junior Chamber of Commerce and the culture award by the Swiss Bank Corporation.
In his widespread musical activities as a soloist, chamber musician and vocal accompanist Reto Reichenbach performed in Switzerland, Germany, Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Hungary, Moldova, the USA, Canada and Japan. Milestones for him were engagements at the Menuhin Festival Gstaad, the Mozarteum Salzburg, the Salle Cortot in Paris, the Interlaken Music Festival and the Tonhalle Zurich. As a soloist Reto Reichenbach performed with many orchestras, such as the Orchestre National de Lille, the European Youth Orchestra Darmstadt, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Romanian “OLTENIA” Philharmonic Orchestra di Craiova, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Switzerland, the Berne Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the International Menuhin Music Academy (Camerata Lysy). Several times, Reto Reichenbach played for broadcasting programs; among others for Swiss Radio DRS 2, Radio de la Suisse Romande and Radio Astra.
Born in 1974, Reto Reichenbach grew up in near Gstaad (Switzerland). Studying with Tomasz Herbut at the Berne Conservatory, he graduated in 1996, receiving the Eduard-Tschumi-Prize for the best performance of the year. Further studies led him to the United States, where he studied with Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and with Boris Berman at the Yale University. In 2000 he returned to Switzerland, where he has since been living as a freelancing pianist in the Basle area. Numerous scholarship awards, such as from the Stanley-Johnson, Kiefer-Hablitzel, Ernst-Göhner and Josef-Pembaur foundations have furthered his career.

Reto Reichenbach Piano Master Class

Times: April 3 (Saturday) 9am to 12. April 4 (Sunday) 1.30pm to 5.30pm. Tickets 30rmb

Reto Reichenbach has held his solo concert in Kunming Opera recently which impressed the audiences significantly. In order to enable experts and students who favor of piano to learn from Reto and make exchange with him, master class is held in TCGNordica.
Reto is good at playing Chopin. He attaches great importance to bring fresh air of modern music to master class in Kunming, enabling more classical music learners to get new techniques and ways of thinking.
Do you wish to improve your performance of Chopin? Do you want to know the mystery of modern music works? You can join us (Sign up advanced is required. Please contact Jin Xiaoyun with cell phone number 13888931611) or you can also attend class as auditor (attendants should be over 7 years old. And please buy the tickets on site. Admission: 30 Yuan) Please focus on Reto Reichenbach piano master class.
Reto Reichenbach has been received by the press and audiences as a musician whose interpretations are particularly intense and sincere. A special focus of his work is directed to the 20th century repertoire, which is reflected in his success at the international 20th century piano competition in Orleans, France (2nd overall prize and “Nadja Boulanger” prize for the best performance of a work from 1900 to 1950). Furthermore, Reto Reichenbach was prizewinner at the international piano competition of the city of Cantú, Italy. For his artistic accomplishments he was given the “Outstanding Young Person Award” by the Swiss Junior Chamber of Commerce and the culture award by the Swiss Bank Corporation. As a soloist Reto Reichenbach performed with many orchestras, such as the Orchestre National de Lille, the European Youth Orchestra Darmstadt, the Zurich Chamber Orchestra, the Romanian “OLTENIA” Philharmonic Orchestra di Craiova, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Switzerland, the Berne Symphony Orchestra and the Orchestra of the International Menuhin Music Academy (Camerata Lysy). Several times, Reto Reichenbach played for broadcasting programs; among others for Swiss Radio DRS 2, Radio de la Suisse Romande and Radio Astra.
Born in 1974, Reto Reichenbach grew up in near Gstaad (Switzerland). Studying with Tomasz Herbut at the Berne Conservatory, he graduated in 1996, receiving the Eduard-Tschumi-Prize for the best performance of the year. Further studies led him to the United States, where he studied with Ann Schein at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore and with Boris Berman at the Yale University. In 2000 he returned to Switzerland, where he has since been living as a freelancing pianist in the Basle area. Numerous scholarship awards, such as from the Stanley-Johnson, Kiefer-Hablitzel, Ernst-G□hner and Josef-Pembaur foundations have furthered his career.

Give Music as a Gift–Reto Reichenbach

An Interview with Pianist Reto Reichenbach (Switzerland)

Pianist Reto Reichenbach played “Chopin – A Musical Legacy” piano recital at the Kunming Theater on March 27. We had a chance to discuss with him about his musical life and thoughts.

How did you become interested in playing the piano?

As my older sister was playing already, I was strongly drawn to the piano and played pieces I knew by ear. So my parents thought it right to enroll me for piano in the local music school as well. They seem to have been right…

Who are your favorite composers whom you like playing the most and why?

Johannes Brahms, for the passion and longing that I feel in his music; Frédéric Chopin, for the inexhaustible imagination in his melodies and harmonies and for the pianistic elegance; Franz Schubert, for his intimacy and sincerity; Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, for the awesome beauty; Johann Sebastian Bach, for the perfect balance of structure and emotionality; Olivier Messiaen, for the rich colors.

This year we commemorate the Polish composer Chopin’s 200th anniversary. In the Kunming Theater piano recital you played an extensive selection of Chopin’s pieces. What are some of the challenges and secrets for playing Chopin well?

Good musical taste is very important to playing Chopin. One can easily fall either by just focusing on the virtuosity or by playing overly sentimental.
The technical difficulties (which in some works are great!) need to be mastered, so that the performance can be free and spontaneous.

You work as a free-lance musician giving piano concerts and teaching students. What are some of the words of wisdom and encouragement you would like to give to young musicians interested in a career in music?

Before you start going professionally into music, think about your motivations. Being a musician can be a hard business, and you may not become rich and famous. Yet, if you have a strong passion for music, you hear from others that hearing you play touches them, you love to teach music, and you are also willing to invest much time into solitary practicing, then this is a great profession!

As this is your first time in Kunming, what do you think about the city, the people, the food…

Many people here have received me very warmly. I don’t know much about the city yet, but my first impressions have been very favorable, except for the chaotic traffic… The food is great, that alone would be worth the trip!

Reto will give master classes at the Yunnan Arts Institute (Music conservatory) during March 29-April 1. TCG Nordica master class will take place April 3-4. If you are interested in participating in the TCG Nordica master class with a program of Chopin and contemporary piano composers or come to listen to the class, please contact Jin Xiaoyun by phone (Tel. 13888931611).