The most prestigious cultural and architectonic project of the last decade in Europe will be presented on April 12 to the general public: the New Oslo Opera. Located in Bjorvika the opera house is integrated into the harbour with stunning architectural audicity and perfect harmony. Renowned architecture firm Snøhetta designed the building after winning an international contest in 2000. The building area is 38,500 square meters and the building consists of more than 100 rooms.

Little has been left to chance. In addition to the first tunes  performed by the Norwegian Opera  while construction was still  ongoing to ensure acoustic viability of all halls, and dancers from the National Ballet testing floors to ensure optimal materials for the pirouettes and jumps, a team of musician and piano performers was sent across Europe with one goal in mind: to  hand-select the finest instruments to be found in Europe for the Opera.

The group traversed Europe and visited the factories of the most prestigious piano-makers. It sounds like a fairy-tale and we at Sauter were surprised at the tenacity, ressources and demands that the selection team had set. We were glad that such a high profile group would engage in a comparative analysis of manufacturers in both craftsmanship and usability for institutional needs as well as have rigorous ideas about the musicality and tonal flexibility of the instruments. As far as we know, no other institution had gone to these efforts and no other public or private funded enterprise had put the integrity of the project above any budgetary considerations. Thus it was with a certain kind of eagerness that we anticipated the decision of the New Oslo Opera.

Just briefly, before the Frankurt Musik Fair (the world’s largest music instruments fair) the New Oslo Opera remitted their requests and ordered 9 Grand Sauter Grand Pianos. The total purchase included 16 Grand Pianos. The Opera had also found fine instruments at Bosendorfer (2), at Roenisch (3), at Steingraeber (1) and at Steinway Hamburg (1).  In addition to Grand Pianos the New Oslo Opera also ordered 4 Sauter Uprights (Modell 122), along with  7 Petrof Uprights, and 4 Schimmel Uprights.

Andreas Bieder, Sales Manager for Northern Europe at Sauter Piano Company, was himself taken by surprise: “We knew that it would be a very tough field to compete in. And especially, since our instruments are valued significantly above some of our German colleagues , we did not allow our hopes to fly to high. My gratitude goes to our factory who is ultimately responsible for the consistency and quality of our instruments. The decision by the New Oslo Opera seems to reflect the general sentiment both in Asia as well as in Europe and the United States that Sauter Grand Pianos are a cut above the rest.”

Notes:

http://www.snoarc.no/#/projects/15/false/all/

www.operaen.no

In very well received concert young pianist and piano protege Soyeon Lee performed her debut with the Napa Valley Symphony to the tune of one of Mozart’s most acclaimed works: the Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, KV. 466.

Ms. Lee has been applauded by the Washington Post for her “…stunning command of the keyboard”. The New York Times described her as a pianist with “a huge richly varied sound, a lively imagination and a firm sense of style”. She has received top prizes at the Concert Artists Guild International Competition, the Cleveland International Competition, and the Paloma O’Shear Santander International Piano Competition. She has worked with renown conductors across the globe in particular Rafael Fruhbeck de Burgos, Otto-Werner Mueller and Jahja Ling. She is a graduate of Juilliard where she won the prestigious William Petschek Piano Debut Award and was the winner of two consecutive Gina Bachauer competitions among many others.

Also the concert in Napa Valley was a class in itself. The music critic L. Pierce Carson described the concert, its music and the artist in the Napa Valley Register as follows:

“This is a deceptively simple concerto, with the solo piano part often naked and exposed. Embodying a special brooding and contemplative quality, the work’s simple melody line demands far more from the pianist than technique. It demands heart. And heart was what it got, as Lee displayed musical maturity beyond her years- at times delicate, others quite intense, all the while beguiling the ear…..Continuing the tragic and intense mood of the work, the final movement’s sense of determination was clearly spelled out by the soloist, along with the second …of two dramatic cadenzas.”

The music critic than moves on to focus on the instrument:

“Not to be left out of the equation was the orchestra’s new piano, an imposing concert grand from Germany’s Sauter Pianofortemanufaktur. Lee coaxed the instrument’s brilliant tones and showed off its appealing expressiveness.”

Not to be forgotten was the work of Conductor Asher Raboy who directed the music with passion and forged a special beauty between the soloist and th orchestra.

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This year is the 75th Anniversary of the Napa Valley Symphony which is supported by individuals and community groups from the area. Napa Valley is the home of some of the finest wines originating in the United States. It is known for its beauty during all seasons of the year and is visited by tourists from across the world.

Notes:

Photo 1: Soyeon Lee in concert with Napa Valley Symphony, Photo 2: Ms. Soyen Lee warming up before concert, Phot0 3: Ms. Soyen Lee- cheerful and ready for Mozart’s D Minor Piano concerto.

Internet Links; 

http://www.napavalleyregister.com/articles/2008/03/12/arts/doc47d78c5a7306e044727858.txt

http://www.soyeonlee.com/

When Jose Negroni was about ready to record his third CD with his Trio he drummed up several renowned Latin Jazz Musicians and a piano: a Sauter Omega (7′3”/ 220cm) was flown to Miami for the recording session. The delicious result will be presented on March 6th in New York under the title: “Father & Son” by Negroni’s Trio.

Jose Negroni has become synonymous for finding kinship among the various flavours of Latin Jazz music, and yet expressing his unique beat and voice. Jose, who was nominated for a Latin Jazz Grammy Award in 2005, has a penchant for melody, the playful shifting of time signatures, and at times classical innuendos. It is not until the album’s second half, in “Your Melody”, that Negroni cuts loose with a smoking tumbao.

Like in a botica- the neighborhood convenience store in Latin speak- there’s something for everyone there. Berklee grad Marco Panascia guests on acoustic bass. The title tune is dedicated to drummer Nomar, Negroni’s son, who continues to grow as an essential part of his father’s trio. “Cajon y teda” is tailor-made featuring West Coast Chequendeque specialist, Alex Acuna. In melancholic mood, “En silencio” is a bolero featuring lyrics and vocals by Maria Nahima; the beloved Consuelo Velazquez standard, “Besame Mucho”, gets an energetic workout.

The presentation of the CD is on March 6th in the Jazz Gallery, 290 Hudson Street, New York, NY 10013. 

 Jose Negroni is a Sauter Artist.

 Notes:

Photo 1: Jose Negroni, Photo 2: Nomar Negroni at the drums, Photo 3: CD Info

www.jazzgallery.com, www.negronistrio.com, www.youtube.com/user/musicaart1