The Traveling Piano

the traveling piano Today we bring you the story of a unique project, aimed at encouraging the organization of top-class musical events in Romania.

Now on its sixth tour, the Traveling Piano, offered by Radio Romania, as well as the pianist who is the main character of the story, have unveiled their secrets. We asked pianist Horia Mihail what the circumstances were that prompted him to join the project.

 "The story goes like this: six years ago I discovered in the basement of Radio Romania two concert pianos that were used back in the '50s and '60s in concerts at the Radio Hall. So, I went to the management and said the pianos should be brought back to life, to help those cultural establishments where there were no pianos for them to use. Unfortunately, the cultural infrastructure is quite scarce in Romania. The idea was received with open arms by the public radio broadcaster, and here we are now, at the sixth edition of this project. There are four traveling instruments, and these pianos travel with me to various places where there are no concert pianos, to bring to life masterpieces composed by Franz Liszt, Mozart, Beethoven and, this year, Chopin. These pianos stay for a while in those concert halls, and they are used for various musical events, to the delight of the audiences there."


In six years of traveling, Horia Mihail has played Beethoven and Mozart, as well as Brahms, Liszt, Schumann and Rachmaninov in 2015. This year, the traveling piano is giving life to Romantic pieces by Chopin. 

Where has the "Traveling Piano" taken Horia Mihail so far?

 "So far Sannicolau Mare, Romania's westernmost city, in Timis County, has hosted the traveling piano, as well as Medias in Sibiu County. At present another three cities, Roman, Tulcea and Deva have also been included in the circuit. Our fourth traveling piano will reach Alba Iulia, where I will also be for a short period of time. The idea was to take the high-profile events held in large cities such as Bucharest, Cluj or Timisoara to smaller cities as well, to places with a less vibrant cultural life. Cities like Tulcea, Roman, Deva and soon Alba Iulia, are already on the map of major musical events in Romania."


The project is devoted to a different composer every year. Brahms combines strictness with freedom of expression and an innovative rhythmic structure. Liszt, in its expansionist approach to the keyboard, is always in search of new spaces, each of his works looking to grasp the full absorbing power of the piano, seen as a genuine microcosm. Schumann's works, on the other hand, are more passionate, poetic and inward-looking, seeking to reveal the true and secret nature of things through music, making him the most iconic representative of Romanticism in music. Rachmaninov, with his singular style and unmistakable melodic innovation, marked by tumultuous and painful lyrical undertones, saw music as the direct result of a troubled, anxious and introvert mind.


 We asked Horia Mihail why he chose Chopin for this year:

 "It was simply a decision I made on the spur of the moment. It is brilliant music, and Chopin's music is well known and easily recognized everywhere in the world. It is pure and sincere music. Pure art. A kind of rhetoric that goes straight to the hearts of the listeners."


The 6th edition of the Traveling Piano tour takes place between March 24 and May 21, 2016, in 19 cities in Romania and in Chisinau. The route can be followed at www.pianulcalator.ro or in the shows of the national radio broadcaster. Here is pianist Horia Mihail again, with details on the places where he has taken the traveling piano and the forthcoming concerts:

 "We started from Chisinau, in the Republic of Moldova, and then followed a route that took us to Roman. Then I performed in Iasi, in Barlad, and went south to Tulcea and Galati. Then came the two concerts in Bucharest, a recital and a concert jointly with the National Radio Orchestra. From here we traveled to Sibiu, Deva, my home town Brasov, Pitesti and Busteni. The tour continues after Easter with a fourth traveling piano in Caracal, then we go to l, Drobeta Turnu Severin, Turda, and Alba Iulia. The tour ends with two concerts, one in Cluj Napoca and one in Oradea, and a recital in Dumbraveni, Sibiu County."


Horia Mihail's virtuosity has been rewarded by the public with standing ovations, and the traveling piano will carry on its journey for as long as culture loving people continue to support the project.


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Publicat: 2016-05-08 12:13:00
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