Yiruma: Talented young pianist from South Korea

Article prepared by Katarzyna Drossel at ISTITUTO EUROPEO.

Talented young pianist from South Korea

Yiruma is well known pianist and composer from South Korea.  He was born in 1978.  Yiruma that is a stage name of Lee Ru-ma.  His most popular songs are ‘River flows in you’, ‘Kiss the rain’ and ‘May be’.  ‘First love’ is the most popular Yiruma’s album which has been released in 2001. 

He started his adventure with piano in age of 5.  When he was 11 he moved to London where he studied at Purcell School of Music.  After graduation  from Purcell School of Music he continued his education at King’s College London In June 2000. 

Yiruma is popular amongst people who do not listen classic music on daily basis.  That is why sometimes his music style can be named as ‘new classical’ or ‘contemporary classical’.  He is considered a World Music or New Age artist by iTunes Store.

Lindsey Stirling an amazing performer!

Hi! This morning I am going to introduce to you one young and talented artist. 

Article prepared by Katarzyna Drossel at ISTITUTO EUROPEO.  

Modern combination of Dub Step and Violin

Who would think that dub step and violin can work together so well?

Lindsey Stirling is one of those artists who blend classic violin with modern music which is dub step in this case.  In 2010 she took part in one of the most famous shows on the earth – ‘American’s Got Talent’.  She is well known artist around the world. 

She was surrounded by the music from very early age of her life.  Her dad use to play classic music every day and that was the influence for Lindsey to this kind of music.  In age of 5 she begged her parents to arrange violin lessons.  She took private lessons for 12 years but even after that she felt that she needs something more about creating the music.  That is why she started her adventure with other styles of music.  When she was 16, Lindsay and four of her friend formed a band called ‘Stomp On Melvin’.  During the time when she was in the band she wrote her first rock song.

Lindsey’s violin was involved at every stage of her life.  Now she is a student at Brigham Young University in Provo.  During her free time Lindsey is playing in random bands for fun.  She wants to continue her career solo or in the band because there is no many things that she love more than being on the stage.

Here is YouTube clip of her best known violin dub step song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHjpOzsQ9YI

Famous Polish Opera Singer

Getting know more and more about opera every time when I am doing my internship at ISTITUTO EUROPEO http://www.istitutoeuropeo.it/.  This time I have found some facts about Jan Kiepura who was well known polish opera singer.  Article prepared by Katarzyna Drossel.


J. W. Kiepura was one of the most famous polish opera singer (tenor) in the XX century.  He was born in 1902 and died at the age of 64 in 1966.  His adventure with singing started in early age when he was a member of the school choir.  He studied law at the University of Warsaw.  He learned how to sing from Waclaw Brzezinski and Tadeusz Leliwa.  He was great opera singer as well as a movie star.  He played in 12 musicals.  Jan Kiepura's concerts were held in places like ie. Opera Convert Garden in London, Opera Comique in Paris and National Opera in Berlin.

He traveled around the world giving concerts in many places.  During his visit in Vienna Jan supposed to replace one of the singers who was ill at that time.  Kiepura could not sing in Italian but he admitted in front of F. Schalk that he can.  His performance was so amazing and audience was so excited that they did not even notice when Kiepura started singing in Polish instead of Italian.

He passed away in Harrison in New York from heart attack.  Until last days of his life Kiepura was active as a singer.

Polish History of Opera

Days are passing by when I am on internship at ISTITUTO EUROPEO http://www.istitutoeuropeo.it/.  Most of the time in here I spend on searching interesting facts which are connected with Poland and Florence.  During my visit in Florence I had find out how opera had started in my home country - Poland.  Here I am posting some facts about this.  Article prepared by Katarzyna Drossel.


Polish and Florentine monarchs had great diplomatic relations between each others.  They stayed often in close contacts because Habsburgs who ruled in Florence at that time has been related to polish royal family. In 1625 prince Wladyslaw Waza (in later years he became king of Poland) had his wedding in Florence.  During the wedding ceremonies in honour of the polish prince was performed rappresentazione sacra ‘‘La regina Santa’Orsola’’ and opera performance of a very famous singer and composer Francesca Caccini ‘‘La liberazione di Ruggiero dall’isola d’Alcina’’.  3 years later a libretto of this opera was translated into polish and performed in Krakow by S. Jagodynski.  Those events which happened in Florence determined beginnings of opera in Poland.

Until yesterday I did not know anything bout relations between polish opera and Florence every minute I learn here new stuff which I enjoy.  I hope you liked it as much as I did. :)

 

Intervista a Ikue Kobayashi soprano a ISTITUTO EUROPEO

Ikue Kobayashi, soprano, trenta anni, da Kanagawa (Giappone) studia canto all'ISTUTO EUROPEO da due anni

Ikue cosa significa per te la musica?

Non posso immaginare la mia vita senza musica

Quando hai cominciato a cantare?

Avevo sedici anni

Perché sei venuta in Italia a studiare canto?

Volevo studiare in Italia perché l'Italia è il paese dove è nata l'opera lirica...c'è una differenza nel modo di insegnare in Giappone e l'Italia.

Quando ho studiato in Giappone dovevo sempre immaginarmi come cantare tecnicamente. Ora ho finalmente capito. Qui all'ISTITUTO EUROPEO l'insegnante (n.d.r. Monica Benvenuti) mi dà sempre esempi sulla tecnica. Ora ho una visulaizzazione tecnica reale di come cantare, come funziona il mio corpo. Tutto ora mi è molto chiaro

Perché in Giappone si studia canto lirico?

Per divertimento. Per piacere. Ora però ho scoperto che il canto fa la gente più felice

E' difficile diventare cantante professionista in Giappone?

Sì. Non ci sono teatri. Pochi.  Pochi concerti...l'Opera non è molto seguita come in Italia.  In Italia l'opera è più popolare

Qual è stata la cosa più difficile a cui ti sei dovuta abituare vivendo in Italia?

Che tutto in Italia è più lento e non è puntuale...ma ormai mi ci sono abituata

Progetti per il futuro?

Vorrei rimanere in Italia e cantare in Italia

Un consiglio da dare ad un ragazzo che inizi ora a studiare canto lirico

...Che dovrebbe venire in Italia a studiare canto...esercitarsi tutti i giorni...un po' tutti i giorni...

Interview to Vincent Law Opera Singer at ISTITUTO EUROPEO

1)      How old are u Vincent?

24

2)      Where do you come from?

Originally from Malaysia but living in Australia for 8 years

3)      What do you study in Australia?

I just completed my Bachelors of Arts, Italian and Japanese studies

4)      How did you choose ISTITUTO EUROPEO?

I was looking for language schools in Florence and ISTITUTO EUROPEO  came out first. Then I realized that  Monica Benvenuti was teaching at ISTITUTO EUROPEO. Basically yes,  Monica made me decide to come to ISTITUTO EUROPEO. I have a friend who studied at ISTITUTO EUROPEO with Monica Benvenuti and for this reason I knew that she is a great teacher…

5)      Do you think that there is a difference between studying Music in Australia and in Italy?

Here you have teachers that teach only one subject, they are specialized in one subject…and this is good…because you can concentrate solely on one subject  at one time

6)      Do you study Music for Art’s sake or because you think that Music can be a sort of upward social mobility?

I studied Music for Art’s sake…as a cultural heritage left to us…

7)      What has been for you the most difficult thing to adapt to in Italy?

To get to know Italians

8)      Why?

Probably it’s not part of my culture to go out for meeting people…

9)      What’s your dream?

To become a famous Opera Singer

10)  How did you enjoy the lessons with Monica Benvenuti?

Monica expects a lot from me…but she’s very motivating

11)  What are your plans for the future after leaving ISTITUTO EUROPEO?

I am going back to Australia. I want to expose myself to competitions to get more experience and continue to study Music in the Conservatorio in Florence

12)  Have you any kind of suggestions to give to a young man who decides to start studying Music?

I think when you start taking lessons is a sort of like getting a job…you have to take your study seriously like a job

Intervista a Michelle Chen (27 anni da Taiwan) studentessa di violino all’ISTITUTO EUROPEO

D: Qual è il sogno della tua vita Michelle?

R: Diventare coreografa e compositrice

D: Perché vuoi coniugare queste due figure in una?

R: Perché di solito i coreografi non prendono sul serio la musica o non capiscono bene la musica o almeno non hanno una completa coscienza musicale

D: Perché sei venuta a studiare in Europa?

R: In Europa c’è una grande tradizione, una tradizione di secoli che nel mio paese non esiste. Da noi l’arte ha più la funzione di ascensore sociale che elevazione spirituale

D: Com’è stata la tua esperienza a Firenze?

R: A Firenze la gente è più socievole che a Londra dove ho studiato. In Italia a differenza dell’Inghilterra c’è più eguaglianza. Non ci sono le grandi differenze sociali (di classe) che esistono in Inghilterra

D: All’ISTITUTO EUROPEO hai preso lezioni di violino con Angel Andrea Tavani; come ti sei trovata?

R: Angel è estremamente comunicativo oltre che bravo. Mi ha corretto i difetti e ha massimalizzato l’utilizzo della mia energia. E’ simpatetico, empatico e ha un grande entusiasmo per la musica

D: Michelle, qual è il tuo obiettivo più immediato?

R: Entrare in conservatorio. Mi piacerebbe entrare al Luigi Cherubini di Firenze per studiare composizione. Mi piacerebbe anche poter suonare in un quartetto all’interno di chiese

D: Un consiglio da dare ad un ragazzo che volesse iniziare a studiare musica

R: Studiare per il piacere di studiare musica e non per utilizzare la musica come un ascensore sociale. Per avere un buon rapporto con la musica