Grielsammer brings a slice of Piano aux Jacobins to Beijing
From the darkly gothic cloisters of the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, the Piano aux Jacobins festival returns to Beijing. The annual Piano aux Jacobins series in Beijing emerged during the Cultural Year of China in France, in 2003. It's an opportunity for Beijingers to appreciate some of the world's top pianists and for pianists to gain exposure in one of the only classical music markets that is expanding rather than shrinking.

“China probably has the most pianists in the world,” says Israeli pianist David Greilsammer, who performs June 6. “I am envious. In Western countries, classical music is declining, in record sales and in performances.”

We reach Greilsammer by phone in his New York apartment, where he speaks about his upcoming performance with the same note of soft-spoken whimsy evident on his latest album, Fantaisie_Fantasm. “I hope that the music makes the audience think about so many things, makes them change something in their lives,” he muses.

Greilsammer, a Mozart specialist, opens the three-day series with a program that should be a highlight of the festival. “To bring part of this project, preparing for this marathon, is something I’m very excited about,” says Greilsammer, who gained fame with a collection of the composer’s early and relatively unknown work. “I'm so into Mozart again. It’s what I perform the most.”

As a rule, Greilsammer also tries to include the work of one living composer in every performance. “Composition is an art that’s very much alive,” he stresses. His Beijing performance will open with the simple and delicate China Gates, by minimalist composer John Adams.

As part of the effort to reach out to what Greilsammer calls China’s “emerging huge market of youngsters,” the performers will be introducing each piece before performing, making this a unique event for newcomers to the genre. Greilsammer enthuses, “I’m really looking forward to that, usually we don’t interact with the audience.”

The pianists have also been invited to teach master classes at the Central Conservatory. In a place with so many piano students aspiring to be the next Lang Lang, the classes are “an opportunity to have that generation shape the next few years of classical music.”

Keith Griffith

Piano aux Jacobins Where: Forbidden City Music Hall When: June 6-9 How Much: ￥60-￥280