ショパン・ピアノコンクール　round2　　　　小林愛美

So glad you didn't give up and decided to come back, Aimi. Your signature delicate touch and uncanny connection to the music are ever so present. But the novelty you have brought to the competition this year is depth and maturity of your interpretation. Your techniques and precision have also improved significantly. So have your confidence, determination and control. I was blown away by your Andante spianato and Polonaise. The audience was also in awe, it seems. Six years ago, we witnessed your raw, almost untamed talent and innate 'feel' for Chopin's music. This year, it appears that you have refined that raw talent to produce something magical that cannot be described through words. Your conversation with Chopin and the audience is coherent, graceful and profound. I wish you the very best and hope to see you in the final where you claim your well-deserved trophy!

小さい頃からずっと天才と呼ばれ、前回のコンクールでは悔しい思いをしてこの6年どれだけショパンと向き合ってきたのか、たどり着いた演奏を聴いて涙が止まりませんでした。

異次元の演奏、この前はフレージングが素晴らしいとコメントしたが、それを含めショパンの音楽というもの、ショパンの音楽の素晴らしさを彼女が1番よく表現出来ていると思う。他の演奏とは一線を画している、是非生で聴きたい。

Breathtaking and exquisite in every way. Aimi has already won this competition for me. As I mentioned on another performer’s video, while every major composer has a great range of expressive purposes, often one major over-arching idea or thread running through all their music (in Beethoven’s case, ‘struggle - personal and cosmic, and the relation between the two - leading to redemption’), and for Chopin, it’s a kind of unique synthesis of joy and sadness running through all his music, a wistful nostalgia and quest of salvation in a Poland of his dreams, that of his childhood, and the hope of a homeland restored, all of this, but emotionally this fusion or synthesis of sadness and joy permeating everything.　While probably many or most of the musicians in this competition are onto all of this (this understanding of Chopin is mostly kind of obvious, verging on cliche), it’s what one does with all of this and how it’s processed that makes a Chopin interpretation, the pianist’s specific connection with such a journey and ability to convey it to the audience. To me, Aimi simply rises above all the rest in these respects. She’s the one I want guiding me through Chopin’s journey through joy and sorrow and hope. And it’s her playing that I can rely in when I need to hear Chopin’s message.　There are many wonderful, stellar, performers in this competition, but ultimately I will choose, from among these, the musician that I feel speaking to me beyond the music, way beyond it. Aimi Kobayashi!!

実は本命は反田さんか牛田さんと思っていましたが　圧倒的に小林さんの演奏が素晴らしかった　一次のマナーの悪さが指摘されていましたが、そんなことはどこかに吹っ飛んでしまいましたね

What came to mind as I listened to Aimi Kobayashi was Vladimir Horowitz!!!! It reminded of the same range of dynamics that Aimi demonstrated. From the extremely soft tones to almost volcanic and explosive sororities. Aimi I believe wanted to medal last year or even win. She was known as the quintessential Chopin pianist. Aimi did not have to enter any competitions. because of her reputation. Now that she has started she has come back to redeem herself - good success.

高度で確かな技術、しなやかで豊かな音楽性、多彩なタッチ、安定したテンポ感の中で躍動するリズムや流れるフレーズ、作曲家や各楽曲の様式感をふまえた解釈、こうあるべきと思われるような望ましい演奏、凄いです。３次は当然、きっとファイナルも。