Johannes Paqué and Gabriele Paqué; Photo: Florian Roth
Dear friends of the music studio,
On Saturday, June 22nd, 2019, we celebrated the 10th anniversary of the Musikstudio und Galerie: Gabriele Paqué!
As already described below, we experienced many highs and lows, which inevitably led us to this special day, and in retrospect make the celebration of this event all the prettier.
Many long-time companions visited us on this day as well as many people who we met during our work in the Musicstudio – and I am proud to say that we all have become bound together by our love for music, art, culture and especially by our loving interaction with each other.
Michelle Yen-Howland with students
Students of Gabriele Paqué
And of course, the studio also presented itself to its guests from its best side: students of Gabriele Paqué and Michelle Yen-Howland designed the musical program surrounding this celebration with singing and concerts. Even a piece for 12 hands was presented on both grand pianos by students of Gabriele Paqué. The students of Michelle Yen-Howland also proved their great commitment with pieces by Chopin, Mozart and other composers. A remarkable achievement, considering how young some of them are and that Michelle Yen-Howland has just been teaching here for 3 years!
In the first speech Gabriele Paqué talked about her dream from over 10 years ago about giving piano lessons to older adults and how she realized it with this Musicstudio. The fact that the music studio should also serve as a gallery as well as children being taught the piano on a very high level as well, proved itself as a logical consequence, once you get to see this great venue with its exceptional instruments.
The next speech was held by Gotthard Kladetzky, who presented himself in his function as chairman of the DTKV, Bonn / Rhein-Sieg district. Particularly noteworthy is Gabriele Paqué’s commitment in association with her constant desire to promote musical culture and adolescent musicians!
Last but not least, Johannes Paqué, who also moderated during the event, talked about his previous work in the music studio. After helping out during his philosophy studies for the first 7 years by designing the graphics products for the Musicstudio, he has now taken on more and more tasks in the last 3 years and is now also an integral part of the team. Seeing how his mother realized such an ambitious project practically out of nowhere ultimately sparked a fire in him for this project as well, since especially the collaboration with artists, musicians and, of course, the many students from many different nations aroused his enthusiasm.
In the second half, the pianists Knut Hanßen, Yin Chiang and Gotthard Kladetzky used their skills on the instrument, which turned out to be a very interesting as well as emotional concert, and at the same time led the listener from classical music to the present.
The beginning was presented by Knut Hanßen with pieces by Domenico Scarlatti and Joseph Haydn. As always, Knut Hanßen talked about the composition of the individual pieces, so that the audience got a better impression of what made these pieces so special. For example, Haydn’s piece is one that comes up with surprising twists, which may be due to the fact that the piece was initially intended as the first movement of a sonata, but then found its consummation in the present variations, with some shrill chords and pauses in unusual places which give the piece it’s special “note”.
We made a jump to the piano music of the present as Yin Chiang presented 8 études by György Ligeti at an impressive pace and expressiveness. Although it’s recommended to be at least a little bit acquainted with this style of music to understand these pieces with their disharmonic melodies and unusual rhythms, it could not be denied that Yin Chiang is a master in the interpretation of modern compositions. After all, she studied with the famous pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard, who was once a pupil of Ligeti himself!
The emotional climax brought Gotthard Kladetzky with his play of the famous Sonata in B minor by Franz Liszt, which took at least half an hour and was completely recited by memory. Since there is already a myriad of pertinent literature on this piece, and because of its high complexity, it is difficult to go into detail here. But so much is said in the words of Gotthard Kladetzky: “The sonata covers the entire cosmos of mankind – all ups and downs, tragedy, and romance of human life.” And you could not express it better. I can only recommend to anyone who does’nt know this piece to listen to a recording of it!
f. l. t. r.: Knut Hanßen, Gabriele Paqué, Yin Chiang and Gotthard Kladetzky
And before you know it, this wonderful celebration was already over. Radiant faces from far and wide left the music studio and this is really the dream that we, i. E. Gabriele and Johannes Paqué, always hoped for!
We would like to take this opportunity once again to thank all the people who have accompanied the music studio over the 10 years and who have helped to shape this special, loving atmosphere of the studio. Of course we would also like to thank the pianists Knut Hanßen, Yin Chiang and Gotthard Kladetzky, as well as all friends and colleagues. And of course, we would also like to thank our younger and older students, who have gone to so much trouble preparing for this festival.
We are curious what the next 10 years will bring!
Sincerely
Gabriele & Johannes Paqué
Photos: Johannes Paqué
Video of the anniversary
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Dear friends of music and art,
The time has come! The Musikstudio celebrates its 10th anniversary today, June 22, 2019. The well-known: “Are 10 years over already?” comes to mind, first of all to me and my friends, of course. But on the other side a lot has happened in the past 10 years, most of which I couldn’t have imagined myself.
The music studio started as a place where older people can learn to play the piano. Of course, thanks to the beautiful rooms, it was also obvious to fill them with beautiful art and therefore the idea came easy to make a gallery out of the studio as well. In addition, it has been a great desire since my own studies to organize high-class concerts on my premises with musicians from all over the world. And indeed it succeeded! Not only musicians from near and far make music here, but also artists from all over the world show their great works in this studio. Now, I count many among them among my friends! In addition to this are my beloved students, who have accompanied me almost all the way through the whole time span and today they don’t even shy away from public appearances.
An unexpected but joyous innovation came when about three years ago a Canadian with Taiwanese roots called me in my studio asking if she could give piano lessons in Chinese and English. The education of her children led Michelle Yen-Howland to Germany and she was looking for a place where she could work again as a piano teacher. I still remember her words: “Don’t worry Gabriele! I will have filled your studio with my students in no time at all. Just wait and see!” And so it happened. Within a short time she acquired dozens of students from various corners of the world, all of whom play with enthusiasm piano and successfully participate in competitions.
In addition, I’m very lucky that Knut Hanßen now teaches in my studio as well! Knut is also a longtime companion of the Musicstudio. Already as a young student, he celebrated his first appearance at the studio at the age of 17. That is already 8 years back. In the meantime, he has developed into an outstanding concert pianist, who completed his concert exam at the piano with honors almost 3 years ago.
Since 3 years my son Johannes is also heavily involved in the success of the music studio. While he “only” did the graphic design for me in addition to his studies in philosophy, he has since become a dedicated employee, who, besides his old responsibilities, now also takes care of the website, social media, marketing, office work and correspondence with clients as well as being entrusted with the organization of exhibitions and concerts. My number 2 in the music studio!
On this day I want to celebrate now with my friends, companions and of course with you these 10 past years, which were also very laborious and sometimes cost me some tears. In addition to the festive speeches from 3 pm, a program awaits you that is, of course, full with music and art. Students of the music studio have prepared special pieces that they will perform for us. Among them even exotic things such as piano pieces for 8 or even 12 hands!
At 5 pm the masters themselves will come to the stage, all of whom have already been to the music studio several times: Gotthard Kladetzky is chairman of the German Tonkünstler Verband Bonn / Rhein-Sieg. As deputy chairman, Gotthard and I have been working together very closely for a few years now and, apart from my own events in the Musicstudio, are organizing many musical events in the Bonn area. As a former pupil of the world-famous pianist Claudio Arrau, Gotthard Kladetzky is of course also an outstanding pianist, best known for his interpretation of Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Liszt.
Yin Chiang is originally from Taiwan. After completing her studies, she first worked as a lecturer at the College of Music in Shanghai, before she came to Germany. She had her last appearance just a few weeks ago. On May 4, she played a beautiful concert with her sister Huei Chiang (violin) with works by Beethoven and accompanied by the reading by Marc Herrmann of the “Kreutzer Sonata” by Tolstoy. In addition, she has inspired the audience several times with her interpretations of both classical and modern Chinese music.
About Knut Hanßen we already know now that he is a gifted pianist. By the way, not so long ago he also played in the Musicstudio. On March 9, he played works by Haydn, Beethoven and Brahms, for which he got a a great critic in the General Anzeiger.
The art is presented by no less than seven artists this time who have grown very close to my heart in the last several years: Alejandro DeCinti, Maria Dierker, Dao Droste, Kirsten Lubach, Antonio Máro, Rafael Ramirez Máro and Otto von Kotzebue. You can find out more about the beautiful exhibition here.
Saturday, 22nd of June 2019
3 pm: Speeches and music contributions by students of the music studio
5 pm: Piano concerts with Gotthard Kladetzky, Yin Chiang and Knut Hanßen
Blücherstraße 14
53115 Bonn
Piano concerts from 5 pm
Program:
Knut Hanßen plays
Domenico Scarlatti (1685 – 1757)
Sonata in f minor, K 204 a
Joseph Haydn (1732-1809)
Andante con Variazioni – f minor for piano Hob. XVII:6
Yin Chiang plays
György Ligeti (1923 – 2006)
8 Études pour piano
XI. En suspens
XII. Entrelacs
I. Désordre
II. Cordes à vide
VIII. Fém
V. Arc-en-ciel
III. Touches bloquées
IV. Fanfares
Gotthard Kladetzky plays
Franz Liszt (1811 – 1886)
Piano sonata in B minor
1. Lento Assai
2. Andante sostenuto
3. Allegro energico
4. Allegro energico – Più mosso
5. Andante sostenuto
The entry is free!
I am looking forward to your visit!
Sincerely,
Gabriele Paqué