NUS Arts Festival – Genius or Nuts ?
By Travis Chan and Nicolene Tan
Genius or Nuts? Both, we’d say – after watching the NUS Piano Ensemble perform a sold-out show at the University Cultural Centre on 23rd March. Who says piano concerts are boring?
While the words “genius” and “nuts” harbour different meanings, in reality, there really isn’t much of a distinction between the two. According to Gu Shimin, the president of the NUS Piano Ensemble, musical composers often bore both traits. An example she gave was Robert Schumann who suffered from a mental breakdown and attempted suicide. Performing 15 different composers’ music, the music delves deep into the controversies surrounding these eccentric characters.
This concert was not simply to showcase the ensemble’s ability to play such highly complex songs. Rather, it’s more of a story that unravels the brilliance behind each composer that lives on in the music that is still studied and played by many today.
One of the performances that entranced us the most was Jupiter: The Bringer of Jollity from The Planets, Op. 32 by Gustav Holst, performed by Nicole Tew and Lee Siyu.
When the emcee announced that the piece was suppose to uplift our spirits, we knew from the first note that he wasn’t lying.The melodious tune that was intricately weaved by their fingers sent shivers down our spines; it was truly as if we were in a different dimension altogether – a dimension that had no worries or frets.
An American in Paris by Joel Leng and Kimberly Tan also received warm responses from the crowd – an uproar of laughter was heard not just once, but on numerous occasions. Instead of just pianists and pianos, the NUS Piano Ensemble also incorporated a little drama act which tickle the audience’s toes! The extra performers played musical instruments such as triangles, and even horns.
The show concluded with the finale piece played by the president of the NUS Piano Ensemble, Gu Shimin, as well as Zhang Zhongkun with their performance of Johanne Brahms’ Allegro non troppo from Sonata in F minor for 2 Pianos, Op. 34b. With the pianists displaying their ingenious skills interlaced with the quirkiness and humour brought by the emcees, it’s a show you’d be nuts to miss!
