Editorial

Editorial by Evelyne Gourdon

Demain Virtuoses/Gourdon Fund is aimed at all musicians who want to follow in the footsteps of Edwin Fischer, Alfred Cortot or Thierry de Brunhoff...


Why these words: "Demain Virtuoses..."?

Simply, to have the pleasure of going back to the source of the words....
The word Virtuoso is doubly derived from the Latin virus: virtue and the Italian virtu: energy, quality.

Virtuosity is a term that in itself carries two completely different meanings: the sense of beauty at the highest level and the sense of easy technical performance.
A pianist should always be a 'virtuoso'.

What does it mean to be in the lineage?
Being in the tradition does not mean copying, it means being on the same ground of musicality, intelligence, will and love, devoting oneself to an intimate research of a score in order to reach its very essence... and find an interpretation as close as possible to the text... And paradoxically this path will be personal.

Because interpretation always comes through the prism of a personality... That's what makes music so alive!
When you hear Chopin by Alferd Cortot, Schumann by Thierry de Brunhoff, Schubert by Vladimir Sofronitsky or Beethoven by Edwin Fischer, you know that it's 'their' interpretation that you're looking for, and that's just as well. There is no betrayal on their part, because their ultimate aim was to bring the score to life and make it 'live'.

Nowadays, however, far too many concert performers confuse interpretation with staging: Dresses... grimaces... racing against the clock... loud noises and grand gestures! Cinema has come a long way...
Buffon could have them reflect: "It is not enough to strike the ear and occupy the eyes; one must act on the soul and touch the heart by speaking to the mind...".

It's true that technology has evolved, and that's a real plus! But you still have to know how to use it!
For example, you have to beware of speed, which often betrays the composer. Alfred Cortot is reported to have said to one of his pupils, "Don't play a thousand notes a minute. Play only 990 but something with...".

Evelyne Gourdon

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