Nino Gvetadze, pianist

Who or what inspired you to take up the piano, and pursue a career in music?

It was a pure coincidence; we had an upright piano at home, and I felt attracted to it from the early age. The joy of making music was so big, that I kept playing and exploring for hours. The first great impressions are connected to Strauss Waltzes and Verdi’s opera La Traviata, which I saw in Tbilisi Opera house, and was deeply touch by the beauty of music.

Who or what have been the most important influences on your musical life and career?

I am thankful to my teachers, who were examples for me, not only as musicians, but as personalities as well. Their dedication and honest approach to music is remarkable and keeps me inspired till today.

What have been the greatest challenges of your career so far?

I wouldn’t call it a career, as most musicians will agree, once you are in touch with music professionally, it becomes the part of your life.

Challenges come and it’s always exciting and rewarding to find the solutions. With every new piece or reperformance you need to find a key that opens many doors. To find that thread, that comes from composer, passes through you and reaches the audience is always a great challenge…

Which performance/recordings are you most proud of?

I love the recording process; I feel free to express my musical ideas without the pleasure of not having the possibility to play it over again. I loved working on my recent albums, works of Debussy and later Chopin. The recent CD recorded for Challenge Records is entirely dedicated to Cyril Scott, an English composer who was somehow forgotten. The recording has received wonderful reactions and it makes me very happy that the music of Scott has received the attention and spotlight that it deserves.

Which particular works do you think you play best?

That’s very hard to say… I have been friends with Beethoven Concertos and I enjoy the finesse of French repertoire. I guess music, that requires colours, expression and delicacy is closer to my personality.

How do you make your repertoire choices from season to season?

I listen to my instinct and choose the pieces that I have been craving to play for years. It’s important to build a recital programme that makes sense, so I consider many aspects including the venues and the timeline.

Do you have a favourite concert venue to perform in and why?

I love both the big and the smaller recital halls of the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The flow of the sound and colours that you can create in these halls is truly remarkable

Who are your favourite musicians?

So many… It would take us really far if I start naming them. Also it depends on the repertoire

As a musician, what is your definition of success?

Success is something that we all understand differently, for some it maybe the line-up of concerts in the most important concert halls…

Being able to understand and speak the language of music in your own personal way and reaching the hearts of the listeners, this is the most precious reward for me.

What do you consider to be the most important ideas and concepts to impart to aspiring musicians?

Start from the scratch!

It’s important to read, listen and find out about the repertoire as much as one can, but when you actually start working on the pieces, it has to be on a clean paper. Exploring the piece from the score, that composer left us and not following the “traditions”, it sounds quite daring, but that’s where you get to discover, enjoy and learn the most. Having trust in yourself and your knowledge and being able to dare to speak in your own way is very important!

Nino Gvetadze‘s Visions: Cyril Scott Piano Works is available now on the Challenge Records label

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Born and raised in Tbilisi, Georgian pianist Nino Gvetadze leads an active international music life as a soloist and a chamber musician. Her performances have been praised by many critics throughout the Europe and Asia. Nino received various awards, the most important were the Second Prize, Press Prize and Audience Award at the International Franz Liszt Piano Competition 2008. She became the winner of prestigious Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award in 2010.

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