Jon Nakamatsu

[pianohopper]

Two summers ago, I saw him play Rhapsody in Blue and assorted ragtime pieces.

Thursday, I saw him play Mozart's PC 27.

Tonight, he played Dohnanyi Piano Quintet with some members of the RPO. 

I met him at the reception after the concert, and he is a really cool guy, besides being an excellent pianist.  He said that what really got him interested in piano was ragtime, and then from there he got into Beethoven.  He also was talking about how Beethoven's PC 4 is harder than 5, and how relaxed Beethoven makes him when he plays  it.


It's so nice to know that Van Cliburn winners are actual people. 

Anybody have his recording of the Rach 3/Paganini Rhapsody? 

[cherub_rocker1979]

I played in 2 of his master classes and he is very nice and an excellent pianist.

[vladhorwz]

I saw him two times and attended one of his master classes.  I also met him afterward he was very nice and humble, and he is an excellent pianist.  He doesn't seem to get the notoriety he deserves.

[dreamplaying]

Reading something about him in the Reader and Digest I found out he studied piano only with a particular teacher all his life,  and not in a conservatory nor a music school (university). He rose far from such high competitive environments, but he succeeded anyway with the Van Cliburn competition.