The strain of Strauss’ violin sonata is still lingering in Philip Chiu’s head.
The classical pianist has just come out of the studio after recording the piece with a violin student at McGill University, and is on the phone from Montreal to talk about his upcoming performance in Vernon, a duo with violinist Jean-Sébastien Roy.
Chiu is used to entering many different rooms to play on just as many different pianos as an award-winning soloist, chamber musician and in-demand accompanist.
And those rooms have sometimes led to lasting collaborations, even if at first, they didn’t seem likely.
Take Chiu’s first meeting with Roy.
Needing a pianist for a recital, Roy, himself an award-winning soloist and ensemble player who has performed around the world, met Chiu through McGill music professor Denise Lupien, who is also concertmaster emeritus of the Orchestre Métropolitain de Montreal.
“Our first meeting was more about formalities and politeness,” said Chiu. “After we had that first rehearsal, I was not super convinced that it went well. We were just not sure about each other.”
Looking back, Chiu blames the piano and the room itself for the reason the meeting was not as promising as planned.
“It was a pretty bad piano and I was convinced he thought I was a bad player,” said Chiu.
However, the two musicians continued to rehearse, and it’s a good thing, as when it came to the actual concert, it showed that sometimes first impressions should be left to chance.
“It was a much nicer piano, and the reaction we received was good. I think we were surprised of how well it went,” said Chiu. “In short, I never would have thought that we’d still be performing years later after that first meeting.”
And it never hurts to have a good piano when performing, and Chiu will when he tinkles the ivories and ebonies of the North Okanagan Community Concert Association’s Hamburg Grand Steinway when he comes to Vernon.
However, there are other elements, he says, that are even more valuable when performing.
“The most important thing at the end of the day is what the music is communicating, and not how perfect the piano is,” said Chiu.
“With recording, today’s standard is inflated to a high degree of performance, but playing live is different. We’re trying our best to perform with what we have, and if you look at the best composers, they were not restricted by instruments or acoustics.”
Born in Hong Kong, Chiu moved to Canada when he was three years old.
“My parents figured that with the hand over (of Hong Kong) to China at the forefront of everyone’s mind, no one knew what was going to happen, so they felt it better to raise their family in Canada.”
As a young piano student in London, Ont., Chiu ended up in Toronto, where he studied at the Glenn Gould School with Jenny Regehr, and later with Marc Durand, who also teaches at the University of Montreal.
After receiving his performance diploma at Glenn Gould, Chiu decided to go to Montreal to continue his studies with Durand.
“I’ve spent the last five years in Montreal, and it’s the place where I’ve placed my foot in the working world,” he said. “I’ve had a taste of touring life and have been able to get my name out there.”
Signed to Jeunesse Musicale Canada, Chiu regularly performs in a piano duo with Janelle Fung, and the two have toured the country twice so far. He has also accompanied violinists Jonathan Crow and Andrew Wan, the new concertmaster of the Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal.
“I didn’t plot this path, I’ve been lucky to have good opportunities,” he said, adding that his work with Roy has been as rewarding as his other collaborations.
The duo has planned a repertoire of well-loved classics to perform in Vernon, including pieces by Beethoven, Brahms, Saint-Saens, and Rachmaninoff.
“We’re excited. It’s about finding a balance, and I believe we’ve been able to do that,” said Chiu.
Chiu and Roy will take the stage at the Vernon Performing Arts Centre Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. Single concert tickets are available from the Ticket Seller and are $35 for adults, $17.50 for those under 18, and $5 for students on the eyeGo program. Call 250-549-7469 or order online at www.ticketseller.ca.
