Hungarian pianist Zoltán Fejérvári lit up an evening at The Imperial’s Piano Club. By Team Viva
Award-winning pianist and Chamber musician Zoltán Fejérvári had not even dreamt of performing in India, unaware that a country of civilisational musical traditions would appreciate and embrace European classical music with equal elan. He performed some pieces especially put together for the Indian audience during his maiden visit to the country. He wove magic with Waldstein and Marosszék Dances, hoping to score with the colourful and folk-inspired rhythms of the latter.
Fejérvári has won the 2017 Concours Musical International de Montréal for piano and also received a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship. Recalling his first brush with music, he told us, “Officially I was eight years old when I started learning music but that was not my first encounter as almost all the members of my family are musicians. My parents play string instruments. By the time I started piano, I already could play a little bit.” Piano was the first musical instrument he tried his hands on as there was one at home. Apart from the piano, he trained in violin and cello and soon realised that piano keys were his forte.
Fejérvári has had a long and fulfilling musical journey. “I started doing concerts when I was around 23 years old. It has been eight years. My concert life had a very gradual progress. During this time, there were some ups and downs but thankfully it never got to a point where I had to stop playing the piano.”
The inspiration behind his music is nothing momentous or divine. “I get inspired by beautiful plays and cities, reading novels and poetry, listening to music and other people’s performances. It’s a never-ending process,” he said. Music, the pianist believes, is a form of expression and must be filled with many experiences. So he keeps his eyes and ears open.
Fejérvári’s work has taken him to various Western countries and appreciative listeners born into tradition. But he had never been to the Orient and has just about familiarised himself with Pune and Delhi in India. “It was a really refreshing experience with people who were truly interested in music. They were warm and welcoming towards me. Their response was very enthusiastic.” He is now convinced that India is the heart of the East.
Fejérvári shared what he feels before going on stage. “There is excitement coupled with a little bit of nervousness but you can never really get used to it. You can get used to the fact that you can’t get used to it.” That fear and uncertainty motivate him to continue working on his craft.
The pianist took inspiration from his teachers and epic and live concerts. “luckily Budapest has an intense music and cultural life,” he said. András Schiff (Hungarian pianist) influenced him greatly. Fejérvári had master classes with him and is one of the selected pianists in the project Building Bridges (started by Schiff). It is made for young generation pianists who will be playing in several cities throughout Europe. Dinu lipatti, Romanian classical pianist and composer, tops the list of his favourites.
Though Fejérvári has received several awards and critical acclaim in a short span of time, he doesn’t get high on them. “Awards and prizes are sort of an official feedback but they do not make you a better musician. They help you develop a career as more people get introduced to your music. The concert and festival organisers are more eager to hire you after you win titles as they are good publicity.” But the pianist tries to remain grounded and not let the recognition change who he is. Fejérvári is currently a music teacher at the Chamber music department of the liszt Academy of Music. “I love teaching Chamber music. It’s a colourful experience as I give something back. I try to be inspiring for the students and get inspired in return. I am planning to continue teaching,” he shared with us while planning a visit to the Red Fort among Delhi’s many heritage spots.