Good Vibrations
Up Close and Personal at Le Salon de Musiques, with Pianist Steven Vanhauwaert
BY PAULINE ADAMEK
“I think of music as a cartoon sometimes, like an exaggeration of reality, like a distortion, like a fantasy world, which is very intriguing. That’s why I like [Vladimir] Horowitz’s playing for example, because he makes these enormous contrasts: He can play very soft, he can play very sweet, he can play really loud, ugly loud, but the contrast makes it, if everything is just beautiful and pristine then it doesn’t work as well. And that’s why I think cartoons are important to really know how to exaggerate things. – pianist Steven Vanhauwaert
How often do you get close enough to see the rapture on the face of a world-class musician exquisitely playing a heart-rending theme?
On the second Sunday of every month, Le Salon de Musiques gives you that very opportunity in an intimate upstairs hall within the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. This concert series was initiated in 2010 by the pianist Francois Chouchan, who now serves as the Salon’s artistic director.
Each program begins with an introduction by Chouchan. Next follows some brief, fascinating remarks by musicologist Julius Reder Carlson, explaining the historical background of the pieces about to be played.
Part of the pleasure is experiencing the musicians’ passion and excitement as they perform at such close quarters — observing the glances they shoot at one another from time to time, checking in with each other for cues and momentum as they perform as a single entity. It’s much the same thrill as watching an ensemble in an intimate theater, when the actors are on their game.
Each performance is followed by an informal conversation between the musicians and the now-French- champagne-sipping audience. A gourmet buffet of sandwiches and little cakes prepared by Patina concludes the event.
The next concert on Sunday, April 6 features works by Samuel Coleridge Taylor, Benjamin Godard, Reynaldo Hahn and Ernest Chausson, with soprano Hae Ji Chang and the Pantoum Trio (violinist Tereza Stanislav, cellist Cecilia Tsan, and Steven Vanhauwaert on piano).
Pianist Vanhauwaert spoke with Stage Raw about his creative habits, and what it takes to excel in the fiercely competitive world of classical music.
Over the past decade performing as a concert pianist, soloist and chamber musician, the native Belgian (who relocated from Brussels to Los Angeles 10 years ago), has garnered a wide array of accolades, including the Grand Prize at the Los Angeles International Liszt Competition in 2004, which enabled him to tour throughout the U.S. and Hungary.
Vanhauwaert has performed at many of the world’s great venues; in China, France, Canada, the UK, Austria and Spain, as well as making a triumphant return to his home city in order to play in the Great Hall of the Brussels Conservatory.
Vanhauwaert recently teamed up with fellow pianist Danny Holt to perform side by side at the keyboard. The energetic duo, which calls itself 4handsLA, was introduced to audiences in 2009 with its dynamic performance of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring. They recently produced their debut CD, Paris 1913. Firmly ensconced in the early 20th century, the release features their now-signature performance of Stravinsky’s Rite, alongside other contemporaneous four-hand works by Maurice Ravel, Erik Satie, Alfredo Casella and Francis Poulenc.
Thrillingly, Vanhauwaert was recently notified by Steinway & Sons in New York that he has been added to their illustrious Steinway Artist Roster.
“I have been performing for over 15 years and I am still figuring out which label I fall into. I really like playing solo recitals, but also very much enjoy chamber music, and playing concertos; and all this in both the standard repertoire and more edgy contemporary music. The thought of devoting myself exclusively to one style or format is a little claustrophobic to me. I like to vary the projects I am involved with.”
“After finishing my degree in Brussels, I moved to the US about 10 years ago out of a sense of adventure. I really like traveling and being surrounded by other cultures. It is one of the perqs of being a musician, allowing me to see different places of the world.”
“I’m certainly no expert in career making! One thing sort of leads to another and yet another, at least in my case. It is a difficult undertaking as I believe one must have a very diverse skill set: apart from being a great musician (which always helps!) one should also have a good sense of time management, a willingness to do a lot of the administrative side of things, good social skills and—for a pianist definitely—strong reading skills and the ability to learn a lot of works in a very short period.”
“Along with my pianist friend Danny Holt, our latest album [by 4HandsLA] Petrushka features works inspired by puppets: namely, Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Casella’s Puppazzetti. Our next project centers around the theme of dance throughout the different styles of classical music.”
“As a student, one has time to devote the entire day to practicing and focusing exclusively on music. As a professional, there are many practical things one has to do in order to maintain a career, so the amount of practicing is considerably less. Having said that, after a certain point, one also learns to practice more efficiently.”
“Le Salon de Musiques is like a throwback in time, something people would have done centuries ago before television and the Internet. The program consists mostly of works that are ‘off the beaten track,’ which I always find more intriguing.”
Vanhauwaert with cellist Antonio Lysy from Le Salon de Musiques January 26 concert: Schumann’s Fantasy op 73, Piano and Cello:
For tickets to the April 6 Salon, call (310) 498-0257 or visit https://lesalondemusiques.com/tickets.asp