Piano aux Jacobins' David Greilsammer plays Shanghai
From the darkly gothic cloisters of the Church of the Jacobins in Toulouse, the Piano aux Jacobins festival returns to our fair city. The annual Piano aux Jacobins series in Shanghai, featuring a selection of pianists from the home festival in Toulouse, emerged during the Cultural Year of China in France, in 2003. It's an opportunity for audiences in Shanghai to appreciate some of the best young performers in the piano world and for organizers and 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 on June 12. "I am envious because 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 change something in their lives," he muses. "Every time I hope to reach that one person."

Greilsammer's performance at this three-day music series should be a highlight of the festival, as the Mozart specialist performs two of the sonatas in his run-up to a seven-hour performance of all 18 Mozart sonatas at a Swiss festival in July. "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 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. The program for the Shanghai 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 really interact with the audience." The pianists have also been invited to teach master classes during the China festivals. In a country 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

Details

When: Tuesday, May 10-12
Where: Shanghai Oriental Art Centre
Cost: ￥60-300
Tel: 6374-4968