 MOL: Tell us about how you begin to play duo? Specifically,
why piano duo?
Genova and Dimitrov: 5 years ago we were soloists, master students of the
legendary pianist Vladimir Krainev, personally invited by himself to his class at the
Musikhochschule Hanover (Germany). Every one of us had his own career but nevertheless we
lived together and in private sense were a pair. During our preparation for the
International Piano Solo Competition in Seoul (Korea) in summer 1995 we played in one of
the rounds the same Etude by Chopin - Op.25 Ndg11. As you certainly know this is one
of the most difficult pieces for a piano soloists. Warming us up for the next lesson with
Prof. Krainev in his room at the Musikhochschule in Hanover, we played just for fun the
Etude synchronously. At once into the room came the leader of the Piano Division of
the Musikhochschule who is very interested on piano duos and everything connected
to this music field. He heard the accurate synchron of our playing and proposed absolutely
spontaneously to think seriously about further to devote us to the piano duo. So, we
tryed: our debute appearence was end of October 1995, one month later - the first
international competition win in Hanover, one month later - the second one, one more later
- the third and so on until we won all prestigious piano duo contests within only 3 years
("Dranoff"-Miami, "ARD"-Munich, "Tokyo"-Japan,
"Bellini" & "Bucchi" - Italy). Beeing piano soloist with bright
personality, ideas and image, it was a great experience for us to learn sharing not only
the success but also the high responsibility to be in top condition which every one of us
has. The responsibility not only to the audience - particularity of every real musician,
but to the other one on the stage - your partner.
MOL: Who's composition do you specialize and
why?
Genova and Dimitrov: We do not have any "favorite" composition,
style or composer because such one is every piece which we play AT THE MOMENT. We love it,
we are ready to give everything from us in order to let it live in its full brightness on
the stage.
MOL: How many concerts do you have this
year?
Genova and Dimitrov: So many that we meet our parents and best friends
only traveling to some concert somewhere in the world.
MOL: What part of the continent have you
perform and mostly perform?
Genova and Dimitrov: Almost allover around the globe - America
(especially often in Florida and New York state), Europe, Asia, Africa (South Africa).
MOL: How did both of you start playing the
piano?
Genova and Dimitrov: Our parents on both sides are internationally
renowned professional musicians - opera singer, violinist and orchestra concert master,
opera pianist and piano teacher. They however did not pressed us to become musicians - it
were some separate, occasional points having nothing in common with each other which drove
our destinies to the music. Just like puzzle.
MOL: Where did you study the piano?
Genova and Dimitrov:We started at age of 5 at the Special Music Schools
for highly talented children in the towns of Plovdiv and Rousse (Bulgaria), graduated the
State Music Academy in Sofia (Bulgaria) and were invited to become post-graduate student
of Vladimir Krainev at the Musikhochschule in Hanover (Germany). There is only one exam
left (the orchestra one) in order to graduate our Master here.
MOL: When was the most memorable concert for
you?
Genova and Dimitrov: Every one has something memorable because every
concert is very special part of our life. Certainly, there are particular episodes around
some appearences but they concern mostly the concert preparations and not the appearence
itself.
MOL: Is there any vision that you want to
make besides the duo piano career?
Genova and Dimitrov: Nevertheless all success and glory always to remain
humans and not to become ET. There are enough such samples, aren't they?
MOL:In your opinion, what is your strength
in your playing?
Genova and Dimitrov: The indisconnectable connection to the real human's
life, the thinking of piano soloists of every one of us, the playing clearness. The piano
duo playing should not be used (as unfortunately frequently happens) by piano players to
cover them up under the partner and to present to the audience a ham-end-eggs where nobody
could discover where the ham and where the eggs are. The piano duo is to enrich the solo
piano sound, to enlarge it to an orchestral ocean with all advances of an orchestra and of
a piano together. This is our deepest dream - to show the audience worldwide what means to
play piano duo.
MOL: Do you have a favorite pianist or
musician?
Genova and Dimitrov: Unfortunately not among the piano duos of our time.
We appreciate very much G.Gould, A.Rubinstein, A.Benedetti-Michelangeli, H.Neuhaus and
Vl.Horowitz and always feel sorrow that there are not such personalities among the duo
ensembles as well.
MOL: People say that old masters are
different from the young generation pianists. What is your opinion on this?
Genova and Dimitrov: Of course they are different - they are old, the
young however not.
MOL:I think, nowadays, pianists and all the
musicians have to digest a wide repertoire in a short time and be able to handle a heavy
concert schedule, whereas 80 years ago, performers usually had sufficient days to
recouperate and to practice before another concert. This allows performers to know about
themselves and give time to digest their interpretation about music and develop their
characteristics. However, today's musicians have limited time in all these things. What is
your opinion on that?
Genova and Dimitrov: All these things are true but they are
undisconnectable part of our life. Just like the competitions - 80 years ago they weren't
so much. The "modern" musicians however (and especially these ones who realy
care about) should find the appropriate way to compense the short times not in minus of
music but, if necessary, in minus sometimes of himself.
MOL: .How many different recital programs do
you have?
Genova and Dimitrov: 8-9 recitals at 1 piano fourhanded and at 2 pianos,
as well as 10 concertos with orchestra.
MOL: This question may be coming from not
knowing your duo too well. If so, please accept my apology in advance. I would like to ask
you if you do other
work besides performing piano duo today to make a living.
Genova and Dimitrov: No time for it.
MOL: Do you like other forms of art? such as
painting? a favorite writer?
Genova and Dimitrov: Yes, we like very much to visit art galleries
worldwide. The time however is not always enough.
MOL: Any hobbies?
Genova and Dimitrov: The silence, beeing in the nature, watching TV,
swimming.
MOL: What do you hope to achieve ten years
from now in your music career?
Genova and Dimitrov: Genova & Dimitrov to become symbol of piano duo
playing worldwide and to make our audience happy after every single appearence, just like
now.
MOL: On behalf of MusicalOnline Magazine, it
was pleasure meeting you and all the best in your career. Thank for your time.
Genova and Dimitrov: Thank you very much.
MusicalOnline
November, 2000 |
