Courtesy: The Jakarta Post

Adam Ghorgy's note builds Europe-Asia cultural bridge

by Ve Handojo

Sun, 12/13/2009

Adam Gyorgy's interpretation of Ismail Marzuki's "Indonesia Pusaka" started with a gentle hum, moving to a harrowing rumble and then built up to an enlightening height without being too grandiose.

The insertion of the composition between those of Liszt's and Chopin's was an astonishing surprise for those who attended Gyorgy's recital in Hotel Borobudur, Jakarta, on Dec.8, 2009.

The Hungarian pianist had come to Jakarta for the fifth time in five consecutive years.

"Since I was here last time, a lot of wonderful things have happened in my life," he said.

He toured America. His concert in Paris was highly acclaimed by critics. Then he ended another tour in China last week.

"After so many different experiences around the world, coming back to Indonesia is never natural. I can never get used to it. It's always a plus. It's always something very nice, the warmth, the kindness and the hospitality," he said.

Adam Gyorgy was a prodigy who went to B*la B*rtok Conservatory, Budapest, at the tender age of 12. Now, the 27-year-old has already completed his doctoral study, swept many international prestigious awards, performed in Carnegie Hall, New York, and received a very rare standing ovation in College des Bernardins, Paris.

Asia has a special place in his heart.

"Whenever doing a concert in Asia, it's always a two-way learning experience for me. I share the European culture through my music, and I learn about Asian culture. My goal is to shorten the *cultural* distance between Asia and Europe," he said.

Jakarta-based fans of Adam Gyorgy have become a sort of family, making the city feel like home to him. This may have caused Gyorgy to connect himself even deeper to Asia, especially Indonesia.

He then helped Indonesian classical music students to get scholarships and sponsors to come to Hungary and joined the ten-day Adam Gyorgy Summer Academy in a castle in the countryside of Pomaz. Out of 30 observers and seven active participants attending the first program that Gyorgy initiated himself, four were Indonesians.

"When the reviews about the school came out, the major thing was *Indonesia discovered', or *rediscovered' - or something like that, because Indonesia has so much talent," said the pianist.

"They established the incredible standard of the school, because they are good musicians - technically and musically - and they are wonderful people."

The idea of the school is to give more than just piano lessons, but to transfer the culture of classical music.

"Europe is the cradle of classical music. The philosophy of the Summer Academy is: inspiration, music, and technique. The program intends not only to teach piano lessons, but more to let the students experience the culture, and get the life of classical music. There is a lot of cultural activities and sightseeing; from listening to live gypsy music, to even trying the spa. The inspiration will come from living the life."

Adam Gyorgy Summer Academy results in more than just trained pianists, but also a global network of classical music enthusiasts.

"I witness that those who come to the school - the active participants, the observers, the sponsors - are keeping in touch, building a network of cultural exchange, and this is wonderful," he says.

Gyorgy's mission to bring cultures together is not only executed on the stage, or inside a conservatory. As the Most Valuable Player on Hungary's national football team, Gyorgy is now working on something else that connects music and sport.

"UEFA had asked me to draw- rotating the ball, and the lottery, and all that - for their European Futsal Championship, coming next January in Budapest. And, they also asked me to compose the official song of the European Futsal Championship. I, myself, will play with my national team," he said.

Amid his busy schedule in Jakarta, Gyorgy participated in the futsal match between Hotel Borobudur Jakarta and Mercedes-Benz Indonesia, where he played for both teams half-half, and scored four goals. Sharing the sport arena is in accord with Gyorgy's mission to bring cultures together.

"I enjoy working with these companies because basically I love to connect the desire for quality," he said.

On the stage of Mercedes-Benz's December Soiree with Adam Gyorgy, the select crowds listened intently to the pianist's improvisations of "La Campanella" and "Wedding March". It was an evening to witness how Europe and Asia can be harmoniously connected. For the city, the experience is truly a privilege. Adam Gyorgy proves that music is indeed a universal language that crosses all borders.







Posted by Luca Ranocchiari --> luca.ranocchiari@futsalplanet.com