The pianist in a tailored pinstripe suit
December 4, 2008
Adam Gyorgy is not your typical classical musician. With his elegant manner and charming persona, this piano genius is the very model of a European gentleman.
This handsome and (surprisingly) young pianist is such an accomplished musician that even the CNN World Report has identified him as a "Rising Star".
Now aged 26, Gyorgy has already visited Jakarta five times for one reason:"I just simply love the people." It is the friendliness keeps him coming back. Although doing concerts in Jakarta can sometimes be a challenge for him, the end result is always stunning.
Gyorgy started to learn piano when he was four and ended up studying at Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. He has won numerous prestigious international awards during his career and he is now completing his doctoral studies at the same music academy.
In 2005, he was invited to be a Steinway artist -- an honor that puts him on the same level as other legendary pianists in the world such as Vladimir Horowitz and Arthur Rubinstein.
Gyorgy arrived for our interview at The Bar in The Four Seasons Jakarta looking charming and professional in a dandy gray pinstripe suit with a navy blue shirt.
This is the image that he wants to create in people`s minds -- he wants to eradicate the image of the pianist in the boring traditional black suit.
"I want my recitals to be different, because my point of piano playing is basically speaking a language on piano and sharing my story on piano. I want people to understand the story. It is a kind of magic circulating between the audience and me. We are one together, the piano, audience and I. It is definitely not a traditional piano recital with a black suit."
For his concert in Jakarta this year, Gyorgy plans to play some new improvisations, followed by virtuoso pieces that are almost acrobatic classical repertoires. This, he believes, will attract a younger crowd.
This year`s program at Usmar Ismail Hall is extremely interesting, ranging from improvisations such as "Rigoletto Paraphrase" -- Franz Liszt`s composition based on Verdi`s opera -- to Chopin`s ballade in G minor.
This year, Gyorgy reached a milestone by giving a brilliant performance at Carnegie Hall in New York, where an audience of 2000 people gave him a standing ovation.
"It was really the moment that I have always dreamed of," he says.
The concert did not start as smoothly as expected.
"I had to choose a piano when I arrived there, which is always difficult since you could never know which one will make you comfortable. Plus it was a pretty hectic day as there was a New York marathon and I almost couldn`t get my own suit due to the road blocking.
"However, after playing for one and a half hours on the piano that I chose I felt more comfortable. At the end it was all worth it as it was one of my greatest performances. I had a great connection to the audience and gave all my best."
Meeting Adam Gyorgy is quite an experience. He has it all: talent, charm, modesty. As for his biggest challenge in life as a pianist, he says it is "to keep on improving everyday and stay as the same person like I was 15 years ago when I was just starting".
"We learn from experience everyday and I changed a lot, but I want to change to be a better person by keeping all the values that I believe since 15 years ago. To keep up the hard work and stay human in all the circumstances is the utmost challenge for me."
One thing that we should not forget is that Adam Gyorgy has developed such a fan base -- here, in this town -- and they will come to every concert his gives. And good news for all the ladies, this soccer-playing pianist is still single.
Gyorgy`s concert in Jakarta is hosted by The Embassy of Hungary in collaboration with Usmar Ismail Hall, the Indonesia Opera Society, The Four Seasons Jakarta and Steinway & Sons piano. The concert will be held on Dec. 8, 2008, starting at 7 p.m.