Russian pianist on the pluses and minuses of competition
Russian pianist Andrey Gugnin told Philippine STAR he believes in the idea of competitions as it gives equal opportunity to musicians of different backgrounds to be heard and appreciated. “If some of them truly excel in what they do, they are given equal opportunities to be rewarded and given further opportunities to devote themselves to music by concertizing and doing recordings.”
Gugnin, winner of the 12th International German Piano Award in 2023 and first prize winner of the Classic Piano International Competition in Dubai, will open the 41st concert season of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra under Maestro Grzegorz Nowak this Sept. 12, 7:30 p.m. at the Manila Metropolitan Theater.
The Russian pianist, however, pointed out that competitions, when they become agents of mass production of artists, can become negative factors for competitions. “There is a danger of stripping off the thin layer of true artistry, which is so precious and defines the unique face of a musician. As a result, a participant is forced to bend to what is considered ‘standard’ and ‘high-quality’ playing that is supposed to be likable by the majority. And a lot of effort and musical potential can be wasted in the pursuit of winning, as opposed to exploring the miracle of music.”
Gugnin was also the winner of the BBC Music Magazine Instrumental Award for his recording of “Shostakovich: 24 Preludes - Piano Sonatas 1 & 2 (Hyperion)” and the Gold Medal and Audience Award at the XCI International Gina Bachauer Piano Competition in 2014, and second prize at the 2013 Beethoven International Piano Competition in Vienna.
Apart from his Manila engagement for his Philippine debut, he will also work with Nowak for the first time. “I haven’t yet had the pleasure of working with Maestro Nowak and that’s another reason I eagerly anticipate my upcoming visit to the Philippines!”
He is PPO soloist in Rhapsody on a Theme by Paganini which for some reason is special to him. “For as long as I remember, I’ve always been drawn to this piece, because it has all the components to create an emotional resonance with one’s soul—from the most tender and beautifully heartbreaking moments to the frenzied gallop; from nostalgic reminiscences to epic glory. And all of this is written in an elaborate yet refined manner and compressed into a rather compact form, timing-wise. Honestly, it’s just a pure pleasure to play the piece!”
He can look at his generation of prizewinners with some objectivity. “Well, I see that the standards of virtuosity and objective ‘quality’ of playing have increased. But more and more, I observe that the driving motivation behind pursuing a career as a musician is somehow more practical, superficial, almost job-like. I think it’s important not to lose the sense of rediscovering a whole miraculous world of music, its ineffable nature and how beautiful it is.”
Maestro Nowak has seen great improvements in the PPO playing which was obvious during the orchestra’s successful UK tour last May. “The morale was excellent, very professional and very friendly. Musicians were always very motivated to become a world-class ensemble in line with the world's top orchestras. Achieving this goal was also possible thanks to the fantastic support of our administrative staff who organized everything perfectly, so our musicians to concentrate only on music. The challenge of performing at famous UK concert halls motivated our musicians to do their best. They became a well-tuned ensemble that literally breathed together as one, giving moving and thrilling interpretations in orchestral works and perfect accompaniments to our three soloists, including fabulous performances of our wonderful concertmaster and artist in residence, Diomedes Saraza Jr.”
Music critic Garry Fraser from the Perth Festival of the Arts described the Perth Concert Hall leg of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra’s UK tour concert as “memorable in more than one way” noting the excellence shown by the two soloists: Wen-Sinn Yang (cello) and Diomedes Saraza Jr. (violin).
Nowak told the STAR Andrey Gugnin is one of those superb artists he wished to work with for some time. “We managed to get him at the time when he will also perform in Japan.”
Also, a most-awaited PPO number is the performance of Symphony No. 4 by Brahms. “Brahms symphonies are among my most beloved works. It’s only natural that the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra recorded under my baton a five-CD album with all his symphonies and major orchestral works of Brahms.”
A music critic reviewed the Brahms CDs thus: “Grzegorz Nowak’s Brahms cycle with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has set a standard for its interpretation. The playing is first-rate and wonderfully clear without sacrificing any of the richness of Brahms’ textures. It has a lot in common with Arturo Toscanini or Bruno Walter.”
Meanwhile, Gugnin is excited beyond words over his Philippine debut. “I’m eager to explore new places, and given the program and the uniqueness of the venue, this trip is definitely a highlight of my season!”
Gugnin’s Shostakovich Concertos (Delos International, 2007) were selected to feature on the soundtrack of Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film Bridge of Spies.
Next PPO soloist after Gugnin on Sept. 24 is pianist Cecile Licad, who will play the Saint-Saens and Chopin concertos, also under Maestro Nowak. The concert is a fundraising event of the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra Society, Inc. For tickets, call 09175708301 or 09947156582.
