Diane in Paris(PART 3 OF 4)
Ingrid Fujiko Hemming
La Campanella
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Ingrid Fujiko Hemming
(大月フジコ)
Fujiko Hemming is a classical music pianist.
Born on December 5, 1932 in Berlin, Germany to a Japanese mother and a Swedish-Russian father but educated in Japan, Hemming began learning to play the piano at a young age from her mother.
She was identified as a child prodigy and performed her first concert at seventeen.
She went to Aoyama Gakuin Senior High School, Aoyama Gakuin Junior High School, Aoyama Gakuin Elementary School. She graduated from the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and began her professional career immediately.
Hemming received many prestigious honors during this time, including the NHK-Mainichi Music Concour and the Bunka Radio Broadcasting Company Music Prize.
She relocated to Germany at the age of 28 to study at the Berlin Institute of Music.
During a concert in Vienna in 1971, Hemming lost her hearing from a bout of high fever.
She relocated again to Stockholm, Sweden to take advantage of its medical facilities.
She performed many more concerts throughout continental Europe before returning to Japan in 1995.
A documentary that aired in 1999 raised public interest in her music.
Her subsequent debut CD, La Campanella, sold over two million copies.
Hemming performed at Carnegie Hall in New York in June 2001.
By 2002, Hemming had performed at every major population center in the world.
In 2008, Hemming was signed by Domo Records for the world.
In June 2009, Domo Records released five titles from her catalogue in the U.S.A., including "Echoes Of Eternity"; "La Campanella"; "Nocturnes Of Melancholy", Live At Carnegie Hall, and Liszt's "Piano Concerto No.1".
SOURCE: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It is a nice story, isn't it?
Yes, it is. So, Kato, you also have a nice story to tell me, don't you?
Oh, yes, of course. When I had a cup of café au lait at Café de Flore, Juliette Greco walked in and sat down next to me.
You must be kidding.
You don't like my story, do you?
Well..., anyway, tell me.
She asked me in French, "Are you a Japanese by any chance?" I answered, "Yes, I am. But I'm from Vancouver, Canada---not from Japan. I lived in Canada for almost 20 years" Juliette Greco said, "No wonder you speak French fluently." So I said, "Thank you. You know, Canada's official languages are English and French."
So, Kato, you speak French fluently, don't you?
Oh, no, I don't.
But Juliette Greco admired your French, didn't she?
I spoke a smattering of French at the time, but compared to other Japanese, my French sounded somewhat fluent to her.
I see. So what happened afterwards?
I told her that Vancouver was my paradise although one of my lady friends said otherwise.
So, you were quoting my opinion about Vancouver, weren't you, Kato?
He, he, he, he, ... you're telling me, Diane. Anyway, I told her when she would come to Vancouver, I could show her around.
Did you really say that?
It was all in my dream. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ...
Don't give me such a fib, Kato!
Anyway, Juliette Greco spent most of her life on Saint Germain des Prés. So she frequented the cafés in the neighborhood. Although I've never exchanged a word with her, I've seen her a couple of times. So, here's a video clip for you:
Juliette Greco at
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
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But you haven't shown up in the clip.
Since I didn't make the clip myself, I wasn't in the clip.
I see. Tell me, Kato, what makes you love Saint Germain des Prés so much.
Most of all, those street artists interest me so much.
Live Young Street Artists at
Saint-Germain-des-Prés
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So, Kato, you spend much time in watching those street artists whenever you stay in Paris, don't you?
Oh, yes, whenever I'm tired of sitting at café, I usually walk around and watch street performers. Sometimes, I come across a pantomime who remain unmoved like a Napoleon statue for more than half an hour. It's unbelievable.
So, you like waching scarecrow-like people, don't you?
Oh, no. It's okay once in a while, but not always. I like a leisurely stroll while listening to nice music such as "Sous le Ciel de Paris."
Sous le Ciel de Paris
by Hideshi Kibi（日本人）
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Jeez...the musician is a Japanese, isn't he?
Yes, he is. Fujiko Hemming also likes Édith Piaf who sings "Sous le ciel de Paris."
Sous le ciel de Paris
by Édith Piaf
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So, Kato, you like Chanson Française (French song), don't you?
Yes, I do. I like Édith Piaf, but Juliette Greco's "Sous le Ciel de Paris" is much beter, I guess.
Sous le Ciel de Paris
by Juliette Greco
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I believe Yves Montand's "Sous le Ciel de Paris" is the best of all.
Sous le Ciel de Paris
by Yves Montand
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So, Diane, you consider Yves Montand best of all French singers, eh?
You're telling me, Kato. So, when do you think you're taking me to Paris?
Don't be silly, Diane. As I said so many times, we're in a paradise here.
Vancouver is better than Paris. Don't you think so?
Well...
灯台下暗し
Here's a Japanese proverb, Diane. If I translate it literally, it means this:
The lighthouse does not
shine on its base.
It also means this:
The darkest place is
under the candlestick.
So, you're saying again, Kato, that I should reconsider Vancouver to be a paradise, aren't you?
Well..., it's up to you. Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha,...
(To be continued)