I usually write about books in my Book Reviews, but this book is so strong that I decided to write in my blogs. This book has been Bestsellers for weeks, and I was very excited to start reading it. It is a documentary, a science history, a racism in America, a family history, humanity, poverty, education—-. The advancement of cell science goes with the Lack’s family history in this book. She was a poor black tobacco farmer. I am still stunned to learn that the high advanced cell science is from Henrietta Lacks who died in 1951 with cancer and her cells were collected during the test, and her family had no idea how her cells have been used in important part of science experimentation and advancement. For instance polio vaccine was discovered thanks to her cells. Her cells have been called HeLa, and most of scientists have no idea where those cells are from.  They take HeLa as their experimental tools, and actually cells have generated millions of dollars.

She had 5 children, 3 boys and 2 girls. One girl, Elsie, had mental difficulty when she was very young, sent to the mental institute and died there. Another girl, Deborah, takes a big role in this book. She takes her mother’s cells spiritually. She can’t help thinking her mother abused in those experiment. She does not remember her as a person because Henrietta died so early. Some of her brothers have had criminal behavior, and have difficulty holing their angers. All of them don’t have much education. They can’t afford insurance to go to doctor–.

The author concludes into more spiritual ending. Deborah and her cousin say God chose Henrietta to be an angel to save us. As a Japanese I did not much of American history in racism and medicine I learned a lot and I am moved by the humanity.

I will perform “Piano Journey in Japan: Import, Synthesis, and Export – From the First Piano Piece in Japan to the Game Music” on Saturday March 3rd at 3pm at Occidental College’s Bird Studio. This program has received the grant from the Japan Foundation. I have been introducing our wonderful Japanese music to the world for last 15 years, and I am happy to bring it to my town, LA, especially at my school!

I will start with the first Japanese piano piece “Menueto” by Rentaro Taki (1900), and play pieces by the next generations. Finally I will play music by Ryuichi Sakamoto, Nobuo Uematsu, and Takashi Yoshimatsu in the newest generation. Between playing I will talk about the culture and history in Japan to go with the music. If you are interested in Japanese culture/history it will be a good program to learn and enjoy!! Please join me on Saturday 3/3 at 3pm at Occidental College’s Bird Studio. It is free, and the parking is free too!

I simply quit listening the radio news while I am driving. I noticed I listen those news mindlessly. So now I take some CDs, especially strings, singers, orchestras–, usually not piano CDs (!) with me, and enjoy first class musicians playing for me in my car. One of my favorites is Hilary Hahn’s Bach CD, partitas. I always love her playing in concerts, but it is a new discovery of her in the different level. It is amazing to hear her seamless sound, honest interpretation, and exceptional technique. I don’t get tired listening this CD over and over.

I went to the dress rehearsal of Mahler 8 “Symphony of a Thousand” at Shrine Auditorium in LA. This concert is the conclusion of Dudamel’s Mahler project. There were literally 1000 people on stage, or even more that 1000 people, including 2 orchestras and several choirs around town. I don’t know the scientific background, but it was very interesting and impressive to hear the rich sound from 1000. It does not get just loud when there are more people and instruments playing. It was a very special experience sitting front of 1000 musicians and hearing the music. And soloists were fabulous! Now they are in Caracas to continue Mahler project in Venezuela. I have been to Caracas for twice as a part of my south American tours, and I remember the different atmospher in Caracas than the other south American cities, like Bogota, Quito–. I hope the best for their continuous success in Venezuela! Please see the photo of 1000 people on the stage in the photo gallery.

I have done my 4th journey on Bach: Goldberg Variations at Carrolwood Cultural Center in Tampa, FL, last Saturday. I have been writing about this piece for several times on this site, and you have read my confession before, yes, it has been a long journey to reach to here. Diligent practice on separate hands, polish memorization, and many more hours of different practice——, scary feeling, overwhelming, excitement, joy, fun, satisfaction, nightmare, fighting against memory devil (!), —- all is done for now. I enjoyed performing in Tampa, meeting very nice people, and fun chatting between practicing. I feel very honor that I am invited to go back to Tampa in the fall of 2013.

I look forward to living with Goldberg sometime in near future. I am sure I will be as happy as now to play it again.  I am excited to meet a different side of me in future when I face to Goldberg again. It has been an amazing journey to learn, to study, and to perform Goldberg. I think I can pat my shoulder to tell myself “Well Done!”

I visited NoHo Laemmle Theater, just opened 3 weeks ago, to see The Artist. The theater is located in the heart of NoHo area, surrounded by restaurants and theaters. I loved this new cinema! It was fun to walk around after the movie. “The Artist” is charming, fun, creative, artistic (!), and exciting with amazing acting. The director/writer is Michael Hazanavicius. Hollywood, 1927: As silent movie star George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) wonders if the arrival of talkies will cause him to fade into oblivion, he sparks with Peppy Miller (Berenice Bejo), a young dancer set for a big break. This is a movie in movie, and a silent style. So acting/face expression is everything.  Dujardin’s acting is natural and charming. Bejo is lively and beautiful. We did not need to hear their conversation. We followed their emotional turmoil, lively exchanges, love, humor, jokes, difficulty—. Also music was excellent. It is a new style/direction movie in the old form. You must see it.

I performed my 3rd Goldberg Variations concert last Saturday January 14th at First United Methodist Church of Pasadena. I love piano and the acoustic at this venue. Playing Bach in this beautiful sanctuary is very special. Thanks to LA Times concert announcement I got many community audience! One audience said when her husband invited her to come to this concert she thought it will be very long, but once the piece started and she got involved into the music she forgot the time. That is the power of Goldberg Variations. I, a performer, go through the different stage of journey during 70-80 minutes of concert. Interestingly I think and feel entirely different at each concert. Many people comment on the memorization and endurance. Yes, that is there! But I still feel very fortunate to have this opportunity to play this monumental work, and I will have Goldberg Variations forever! I will play it again in Florida soon.

I went to listen Thibaudet’s Liszt concerto no. 2 last week. His artistry, technique, sensitivity, good-ensemble manner, — was just great. I enjoyed it so much. He is a very attractive artist in many styles and approaches. I have several CDs of Thibaudet and each one is so different from the others. Of course we can’t forget his sense of fashion too! Plus it is so nice to have Miguel Harth-Bedoya, a conductor for this concert. He has many LA fans! He had a position with LA Phil, and keeps a great relationship with the orchestra. The program included Dvorak: Hussite Overture and Saint-Saens:Organ Symphony No. 3.

Happy New Year!

I hope you had a nice holiday season! I spent my holiday at my husband’s mom’s house with his family in Indiana, U. S. Of course each year is different, but we try to get together with as many members as possible.  I enjoyed playing games, eating and chatting, and cooking/cleaning to help my mother-in-law— as most of us do for holidays. There is a spinet piano (possibly not well-maintained!) sitting in the living room at her house so I practiced Goldberg Variations when people were not around much. For us pianists finding a piano to practice is one of the hardest things. I have a portable/roll up piano and a small electric keyboard to carry on traveling, but those keyboards are little bit miserable to practice. I use them at hotel rooms if it is really needed. Anyway my 2012 is going nicely. I played several variations from Goldberg at church’s service to bring back my performance mind. I get really nervous if I don’t perform front people for a while. My Goldberg journey in 2012 will start this Saturday 14 at 4pm at First United Methodist Church of Pasadena, then in Florida later. Besides my life-time dream piece, Goldberg Variations, I have interesting programs to play this spring-summer!