Artist of the month:

Freddy Kempf

From a charming hero to a perfect dad

In any high school drama movie, there is always a scene like this: when a handsome boy walks pass, all the girls would turn their heads, look, and giggle. It happens in reality. I remember vividly how Freddy Kempf caught everyone’s eyes whenever he appeared at the Royal Academy of Music. Like another naturally charismatic pianist Van Cliburn, Freddy made his international career at the International Tchaikovsky Competition, though not by winning first prize in 1998. Since then, he has been performing in the world’s major concert halls, with great conductors and orchestras. In 2001, he was voted as the Best Young British Classical Performer in the Classical BRIT Awards and recently, he conducted from the keyboard to perform a complete cycle of Beethoven’s piano concertos. When it seems that the world is under his feet, Freddy Kempf tells you that a perfect day for him would be not being woken up by his kids, having a nice cup of coffee, and walking peacefully in the European Alps.

Composer of the month:

David Popper: The Dandy

Have you ever wondered what a superstar in the 19th Century looked like? Predictably, male idols had incredibly good looks; broad shoulders, wavy hair, distinguished facial features, masculine chins, and chiseled profiles. Lacking anabolic steroids, they sported wiry and lean physical frames, but were substantially taller than the average individual. Most of them were active in the arts, particularly the performing variety. But what really distinguished them from the average Justin Bieber or Snoop Doggy Dogg of today, is the fact that they actually had talent! Performers like Niccolo Paganini and Franz Liszt realized that talent, hard work, physical appearance, showmanship and virtuosity were indispensable and intertwined elements of all musical performances. As such, they established the paradigm model for populist notoriety, and countless others eagerly followed in their footsteps. Among them was an incredibly talented and handsome cellist from Prague.