Sonia Rubinsky is a Grammy Award-winning classical pianist who will perform Friday at the Experiencing Villa-Lobos festival hosted by VCUarts. Rubinsky began her career as a child prodigy, performing her first recital at five and a half years old. She earned her master’s and doctorate degrees at the Juilliard School of Music, and has performed in concert halls around the world, from Carnegie Hall in New York to Teatro Municipal de São Paulo in Brazil. Her extensive recording career won her the award for “Best Recording of the Year” at the 2009 Latin Grammy’s.
In anticipation of Rubinsky’s upcoming performance, VCUarts shared a brief Q&A with the musician before she takes the stage in the Sonia Vlahcevic Concert Hall. To listen to Rubinsky live, visit the VCUarts Music website for information on programing and tickets.
VCUarts: You will be performing many of Heitor Villa-Lobos’s works during your program. What is your favorite piece to play, and why?
Rubinsky: The program I am performing is very varied in form and content. There are pieces with strong folkloric component (like the pieces from the collections called CIRANDAS, and the Ciclo Brasileiro. Others are very modern like the ones from the collection Prole do Bebê II. And I love all of them. There is so much feeling, passion and vivacity in them, that it is hard for me to choose. I must say, I have a predilection for “Que Lindos Olhos” (“What Beautiful Eyes”) which comes from the cycle CIRANDAS. It is based on a child round song, and the text talks about love. It is a nightmarish vision of love. The song comes from very far; Villa-Lobos writes the song citation in small notes, while the left hand plays ominous repeated C sharps. It is quite a piece. Another that I love is “O Cachorrinho de Borracha” (“The Rubber Puppy”) which is about a sleeping dog and his dreams. The melody is haunting and beautiful.
VCUarts: Why do you think this modern composer’s work continues to resonate with an international audience today?
Rubinsky: Villa-Lobos was able to express his genius in a very personal manner, but its power lies in the wonderful mix of lyricism, and rhythmic vitality. And he is able to do that within a tonal language, even though at times it can be quite dissonant. But the framework is tonal. In my experience, the audience can relate immediately to the melodic component of his music. And even though the rhythms are Brazilian and by definition are local and specific, its power is so contagious that the audience responds to that internationally. I do believe that Villa-Lobos is one composer whose power lies in approaching the audience of today with the music of the 20th century.
VCUarts: You recently developed and taught a course designed for gifted young pianists at the Jerusalem Music Center. As someone who began performing for audiences as a child, what do you think are the most important lessons that young musicians should learn?
Rubinsky: My experience as a teacher in master classes or in private lessons has been a great source of thought and intellectual development for me. I am very intuitive when I teach, and I tend to teach everyone in a different manner, responding to the person’s personality and qualities. Young musicians should be exposed to the beauty of music not just within the piano repertoire, but also in chamber music and in listening to great performances of orchestral music. I do think that listening is the most important activity to train a musician. How to listen, what to listen to, and so forth. I like to expand the student’s horizons, and it is certainly through the intellect and the ear that one can develop beyond.
VCUarts: You performed at the Villa-Lobos Festival when it was last held in Richmond in 2008. How does it feel to return to the city and participate in this celebration more than a decade later?
Rubinsky: In fact it was 11 years ago. I am very happy to come back and I am very much looking forward to meeting the other participants. This festival is a wonderful project, unique in the world. The music of Villa-Lobos is vast and varied. There are many aspects in need of research. I do hope that these actions help promote this wonderful music as well as research in this area of study.
VCUarts: What would you like listeners and students to know about the music before your performance?
Rubinsky: I intend to explain the works I will play in my recital on March 22. Come with your ears and hearts. Villa-Lobos used to say that Brazil has the shape of a heart. He really believed he was the expression of that heart. And his intent was to enchant. I hope I will do justice to that, so come ready to be enchanted!
I would also like to add a big “thank you” to John Patykula and all the staff working so hard on making this happen, and to the amazing Dr. Vlahcevic, who is hosting me, and whose indefatigable energy and love for this institution—the Department of Music at VCUarts—is a model for us all.
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