Today's post happily brings you an interview with one of the most talented young Romanian musicians, The rising star in question is Iulian Ochescu, an 18 year-old piano player who possesses a warm heart and great consideration for music in general and classical music in particular, I therefore invite you to enjoy the following lines and keep in mind Iulian's name because you will hear it very often sometime in the near future.
Iulian, thank you very much for accepting to spend a bit of your free time answering my questions. I know you have a busy schedule and you made an effort to talk to me so this way you are even more entitled to receive my warmest thanks.
I think it is the most pleasant way of spending my free time so it is my pleasure!
First of all, I want you to tell us about the moment whan you started playing the piano and, even more, the moment when you realised this instrument was going to craft your career.
Music wasn’t much of a choice since I grew up in a family of musicians. Starting playing the piano was the result of listening to lots of music, of all kinds.
When I was about 7 years old, playing music was like playing football or other things, just a regular activity. Although I went through difficult moments, piano playing slowly became the main focus of my daily life. Basically, only a couple of years ago I realised that piano playing would represent my lifetime job and joy.
I had the pleasure of meeting Iulian the teenager. Tell me more about Iulian the young musician.
To be a classical musician these days may seem for many people a little bit awkward but my life is nevertheless a normal one. Frequently rehearsing and playing onstage is the tiny diference between the teenager and the musician.
Which are the musical achievements you are the most proud of?
Of course, winning competitions can be regarded as an achievement but the most important for me is the chance of playing in some beautiful concert halls like the Romanian Atheneum or so and managing to communicate with beautiful and open-minded audience.
Is your vision on playing the piano more oriented towards virtuosity or feeling?
It is more like having the right technique in order to be capable of expressing your feelings through sounds. I don’t see two distinct things - technique and musicality… it is just music.
Musically speaking, what plans do you have for the future?
You never know what future may bring into your life… but still I am looking forward to studying music in an European conservatoire (I must decide in which one) and to having as many concerts as possible, learning new scores and discovering new and great music.
Which are the composers you feel closer to your heart?
To name just a few of them: J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, G. Mahler, R. Strauss, M. Ravel, B. Bartok, G. Enescu.
Do you think musicians should perform for the audience or for themselves?
It will probably sound a little bit harsh but I sincerely think that musicians should play for themselves in order to properly transmit their thoughts and feelings. Regardless of audience and their response to the artist’s work, one should be able to find the same amount of joy and will to make music in every hall, every moment… and that can be challenging for a modern day classical musician.
Which is the question you have never been asked in an interview but you would have liked to be asked? And what would be your answer to it?
- “Do you think that classical music can fit modern society’s pulse?”
- Totally yes!
Can you name some upcoming events where we can listen to your performance?
In Bucharest, on May the 27th in the big hall of the Romanian Atheneum (with an orchestra) and on the 29th in the small hall (solo recital). Until then I will publish further details on Facebook and Myspace (we can get there in touch).
Would you like to transmit something to our readers?
Try to find some time for listening to good music and reading good books, attend exhibitions, concerts, plays, etc. so that you can make your life a big piece of art!
For those of you who want to listen to Iulian's playing, you can find his Myspace page in the link below:
http://www.myspace.com/iulianochescu
Iulian, thank you very much for accepting to spend a bit of your free time answering my questions. I know you have a busy schedule and you made an effort to talk to me so this way you are even more entitled to receive my warmest thanks.
I think it is the most pleasant way of spending my free time so it is my pleasure!
First of all, I want you to tell us about the moment whan you started playing the piano and, even more, the moment when you realised this instrument was going to craft your career.
Music wasn’t much of a choice since I grew up in a family of musicians. Starting playing the piano was the result of listening to lots of music, of all kinds.
When I was about 7 years old, playing music was like playing football or other things, just a regular activity. Although I went through difficult moments, piano playing slowly became the main focus of my daily life. Basically, only a couple of years ago I realised that piano playing would represent my lifetime job and joy.
I had the pleasure of meeting Iulian the teenager. Tell me more about Iulian the young musician.
To be a classical musician these days may seem for many people a little bit awkward but my life is nevertheless a normal one. Frequently rehearsing and playing onstage is the tiny diference between the teenager and the musician.
Which are the musical achievements you are the most proud of?
Of course, winning competitions can be regarded as an achievement but the most important for me is the chance of playing in some beautiful concert halls like the Romanian Atheneum or so and managing to communicate with beautiful and open-minded audience.
Is your vision on playing the piano more oriented towards virtuosity or feeling?
It is more like having the right technique in order to be capable of expressing your feelings through sounds. I don’t see two distinct things - technique and musicality… it is just music.
Musically speaking, what plans do you have for the future?
You never know what future may bring into your life… but still I am looking forward to studying music in an European conservatoire (I must decide in which one) and to having as many concerts as possible, learning new scores and discovering new and great music.
Which are the composers you feel closer to your heart?
To name just a few of them: J.S. Bach, W.A. Mozart, F. Chopin, R. Schumann, J. Brahms, G. Mahler, R. Strauss, M. Ravel, B. Bartok, G. Enescu.
Do you think musicians should perform for the audience or for themselves?
It will probably sound a little bit harsh but I sincerely think that musicians should play for themselves in order to properly transmit their thoughts and feelings. Regardless of audience and their response to the artist’s work, one should be able to find the same amount of joy and will to make music in every hall, every moment… and that can be challenging for a modern day classical musician.
Which is the question you have never been asked in an interview but you would have liked to be asked? And what would be your answer to it?
- “Do you think that classical music can fit modern society’s pulse?”
- Totally yes!
Can you name some upcoming events where we can listen to your performance?
In Bucharest, on May the 27th in the big hall of the Romanian Atheneum (with an orchestra) and on the 29th in the small hall (solo recital). Until then I will publish further details on Facebook and Myspace (we can get there in touch).
Would you like to transmit something to our readers?
Try to find some time for listening to good music and reading good books, attend exhibitions, concerts, plays, etc. so that you can make your life a big piece of art!
For those of you who want to listen to Iulian's playing, you can find his Myspace page in the link below:
http://www.myspace.com/iulianochescu
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