Melbourne Piano Stories IV - Best. Concert. Ever.

Vonbon

The range of songs, the incredible talent, the strong emotions...

Yeah, so I just got home from the 5:30 session, watching and listening to Krzysztof Malek play was one of the most incredible experiences, especially with the music from the games that filled my childhood onwards.
Zelda? Brilliant.
Tetris? Mesmerising.
Super Mario Brothers? So many memories...

Ayako Ishikawa is the most amazing violinist I have had the pleasure to watch and listen to. The emotions expressed moved me.

The two songs:
Laputa, Castle in the Sky - Innocent
Elfen Lied - Lilium

Words cannot describe how I feel after hearing the two of those.

Not to mention the news regarding the December "Passion" concert... Lets just say I"ll be prebuying tickets as soon as humanly possible.

Krzystof, Ayako, you are my god and goddess.

Michel

-=SeRaPH=- · Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:04 pm Post subject:

Sounds great!!!

I miss it since im in Italy right now but glad to hear you enjoyed it ^^

Vonbon · Posted: Sat Sep 23, 2006 11:20 pm Post subject:

Oh I enjoyed it. I"m still all tingly right now.

Sorry that you missed it Sad

Can"t wait for the December one, Hitoshi Sakimoto and Yasunori Mitsuda? Or do my ears deceive me?

I drool.

I really do.

thisiscc · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2006 Posts: 4 Location: Melbourne

ok this music was ok but i preferred the 'night in fantasia' with the whole orchestra n stuff.

And then there was the credits in the programme, oh i was hoping to be hit with some of the original pieces as made by the composers as intended but two people were responsible for music transcriptions and arrangements.

Piano Squall and Joshua C. Agarrado

i dunno who the latter is, but hearing the pieces interpreted by piano squall (from PianoSquall.com) annoyed me a bit due to:
a) i can hear some of them on his website
b) i'm not fond of his interpretations because they drift away from the original. But i guess there is the deal about making profit from performing other people's work...

Overall a good show and great performances by the 2 artists (i'll nva be able to play like Malek), i was at the 5:30 concert like vonbon and i particularly liked the super mario medley at the end.

Question to Ayako: so what WAS in that violin of yours? noticed u got it out cos the sound improved later on in the performance. Oh the passion from the two sent shivers down my spine...EXCELLENT

Up next PASSION (first thing that comes to mind is KHII theme) Very Happy

Edit: Joshua is from Josh's anime music sheets...familiar to most but i obviously didnt make the link.

saphyre · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 9

If possible, can you post the list of the songs that were played? I wanted to go so badly but unfortunately I just couldn't make it.. I was spewin' Sad

I've always wondered what pieces of music would be played from Xenogears and various other anime/game titles in this performance.

Would be greatly appreciated.

Vonbon · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 12:51 am Post subject:

I"m hoping I"m allowed to do this, but if not I guess a mod can just delete the post...

Named by where its from - Title of song - Composer
* indicates Ayako Ishikawa on violin with Krzysztof Malek.

<edited by Moderators>

Oh and if you couldn"t make it and didn"t see it in another topic, they have apparently confirmed Yasunori Mitsuda and Hitoshi Sakimoto and are finalising Yoko Shimomura for the Passions concert in December.

December will be a great month.

jarbalix · Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

Fantastic performance tonight. That was brilliant playing by Krzysztof considering some of it appeared to be practically sight read. Watching him get really into the Azumanga stuff, Rowdy Rumble, and the Super Mario Medley made it all the more entertaining. It's always a pleasure to see someone enjoy playing.

Ayako's performance was flawless and very expressive. Although the amplified effect of the violin from two peripheral speakers felt a little unnatural at times.

Nice to see a bit of variety as well. Suzumiya Haruhi was a rare treat (heading over to josh's now).

Perhaps next piano stories we might get some Juuni Kokki, Haibane Renmei or KareKano? Even the Cowboy Bebop songs would be a refreshing change from the barrage of Hisaishi/Uematsu.

CCJc · Hmmm... Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 971

Please refrain from giving out explicit programme detail please

This is almost similar to telling someone the climax+ending of a movie, which totally spoils everything

Of course, when sydney has their concert, which hasnt happened yet! Then details can be posted

Be curtousy to those who havent seen it!

Wink

Vonbon · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:12 am Post subject:

My bad. I can pm it to him/her though right? Since that would be more akin to poking one person in the eye as opposed to poking the popuulation of Australia.

I really have to work on my analogies.

jakez · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 1:35 am Post subject:

yeh i was at the 5:30 session too...overall it was pretty good...maybe a 7/10 for me... i really liked Ayako too...shes only 22 and shes accomplished so much and as a violinist it pretty much doesn't get any better then that...i was realy impressed as i missed out on tales in phantasia...but i'm down for the next concert for sure "passions"...sounds awesome already by what the host told us!!

CCJc · Hmmm... Joined: 20 Sep 2005 Posts: 971

squall3031 · Regular Joined: 04 Sep 2005 Posts: 116

i came to 8 PM session and it seemed he was lack of concentration. He probably was tired and his performance didn't impress me because he made many mistakes. Oh well....i still prefer alex than him though ...

saphyre · Newbie Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 9

Apologies for asking so selfishly.
I'll keep in mind to ask the person to PM them to me next time.

Vonbon · Posted: Sun Sep 24, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject:

Well us in the 5:30 group came out around 7:45ish, so no doubt he would be tired... Especially after <censored final song name>.

See? I"m being good now.

welovepandas · Newbie Joined: 24 Sep 2006 Posts: 1

I went to the 8:00 session...it was good all the same ^___^ especially the Gundam Seed Destiny, i like that a lot considering that the singer for that song is my fav J Pop singer. I didnt hear any mistakes made by Krzysztof but he did hav bits of pause I think....?___? excellent all the same, we all had a laugh at the tetris/mario pieces

manfa · Regular Joined: 08 Jul 2006 Posts: 66

Dreamer · Newbie Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Posts: 4

Hi. I just wanted to say thankyou for an incredible night at Piano Stories IV at Melba hall. While I enjoyed Krzyzstofs' performance, for me it was Ayako that stole the show and I could've easily watched and listened to her all night.

I can't wait to hear when your next big event becomes available, hopefully in Melbourne as it's cheaper to fly to there from Adelaide and I'm pretty sure that having one in Adelaide isn't likely to happen ^^

One thing I would like to add though is I would like to see an improvement in pre-purchasing. I wanted to pre-book but there were no real options available and had to wait until I arrived. Something I would like to avoid prior to coming to the next one as it will be a long way to come (not to mention expense) and find out it's sold out.

Once again Thankyou so much, and if possible please pass on this praise to everyone involved Smile

Nephtis · Posted: Mon Oct 02, 2006 9:59 am Post subject:

Never fear, my plans for the next concert's ticketing system should involve internet sales. Should. Hopefully.
Razz

Vonbon · Posted: Wed Oct 04, 2006 12:19 pm Post subject:

"Hopefully."

;p

On another note, went to all the trouble to get friend to buy tickets from a gametraders store the day before only to find out that it would have been cheaper to buy it on the day at manifest Sad

Internet ticket sales would be nice though. I for one would buy as soon as they were released. Passions ftw.

mysterious_x · Posted: Sat Oct 07, 2006 8:08 pm Post subject:

I'm so bummed I missed out Crying or Very sad

First Melbourne concert I've actually missed... But I was soo busy that weekend and had work...
But I guess there's always next time Wink

senefen · Eminence Crew Joined: 09 Oct 2006 Posts: 8 Location: Melb

It was realy good, I'll be volentering again Very Happy

Want to buy CD.
Super Mario was V good, aslo loved Cruel Angels thesis

chocohi · Mega Forum Addict! Joined: 09 Sep 2005 Posts: 524

Afa · Newbie Joined: 05 Apr 2006 Posts: 10

yes, maybe PS4 at melbourne was the best, but about half of the stuff was taken out due to Krzysztof, but Ayako made it for me to best... my favourite piece of all, Latupa main theme or Innocent... that made it the best for me Very Happy

but i am going to be so dang dissapointed when the CD comes out without the violinist parts like PS3... unless it is gonna be??? Laughing

Ayako's PS4 Violin Pieces must be added to the CD, please Very Happy

Scyn · Newbie Joined: 15 Oct 2006 Posts: 2 Location: Sydney

First timer @ any eminence concerts and I was amazed, just came back from PSIV in sydney 7:30 session, you can tell right ?

Krzysztof might not of made it, however the stand-by (Marzda ? jazz pianist) was fantastic on the piano, perfectly nailed (and I mean PERFECTLY) both Neon Genesis Evangelion songs and add to that a topping of Ayako on the violin to recreate Lilium...perfect...as this thread says 'best concert ever' (ok so I am a first timer, but I'll say it anyway).

What I've said are only stand out to me, maybe it's cause I've seen the animes so many times, however tetris was a nice touch and super mario bros as a finale...what can I say..I feel like a teenager again Embarassed

wonderful is what most girls would say here, fan-bloody-tastic is what a guy would say...fan-bloody-tastic and the sampler at the very end of the concert from the witches of eastwick (peter wang on the piano ayako on the violin rocks your sock off!)

Panjay · Newbie Joined: 31 Oct 2005 Posts: 23 Location: NSW, Sydney

Loved the concert, especially the Zelda, Azumanga Daioh, Hack Sign and Elfen Lied piece's. They were absolutly mesmerising. Oh and the tetris piece was cool.

I must have a CD, i can't wait. *Drools in anticipation

There is one thing i would like to bring to attention, in the merchandise area, i had a hard time buying a poster (i already own all the cd's lol), the staff had no change, none at all, i had to go search for change outside. i dont know why that happened and im not complaining, (mainly cause i got a poster anyway), but alot of people walked away not buying anything because there was no change, (not even for a 5 or 10). This means that the staff mau have not sold as much stock as they wanted to, leading to lack of revenu production from the mechandise, so yeah..........

Anyways, it was an excellent concert and i cant wait for the cd, i hoped everyone else enjoyed it too.