What do you love about music?
Music is a language that emanates from the heart and from the soul. It’s full of mysteries and abstraction in a logical form. It has a universal character and it’s the language of the universe. Music is about poetry, colors, mathematics, medicine; music is nature and life.
This is your fourth year of the festival – how does it compare to years past?
Every year the festival grows. This year, we have three pianists, two opera singers, two award-winning composers from the East Coast, a narrator, a musicologist, and others coming from different parts of the country, even from France. Elizabeth Peña, co-director, and I created a young artist award giving talented pianists an opportunity to perform in concert with us. We now have two pianos, which helps us to have an even more exotic repertoire.
Do you have a favorite piece of music that you play?
I have many favorite pieces and many favorite composers. I like to start my morning with Bach. Every piece I practice becomes my favorite one…. but I must say that from an early age, I have always felt a connection with Franz Liszt.
How difficult or easy is it to get the caliber of people you do to perform here in Sedona?
It is not too difficult as Sedona is a privileged platform. Everybody wants to come and play in Sedona. The philosophy of Piano on the Rocks is to bring the best musicians, artists and winners of International Competitions. We have pianists from Curtis [Institute], Paris’ Superior Conservatory, London’s Royal College of Music as well as the winners of the International Chopin Piano Competition and Clara Haskil [International Piano] Competition.
What do you love about Sedona?
I love the energy, the beauty and peace. It is simply magical. It’s a perfect place for an artist. An artist needs beauty to produce beautiful things and we have it here in Sedona.
SEDONA CALENDAR: Events, activities, shows, happenings
