Comments Archive

Comments in blue were posted by James...

"Hi James, just discovered you through one of my pupils, Stephen Angell. Blown away. Just brilliant what you are doing and thank god someone as cool as you is playing at this level. Go for it!"

Raphaelle Sadler
July 22, 2010

"Passed Florence and The Machine at Latitude, to watch your set instead. Definitely the right decision, wonderful and I loved it.
"

sarah bell
July 18, 2010

"Hi James! I saw your video of the premiere iPad recital performance - nice playing!
Thought you might be interested in hearing about AirTurn, a company that makes hands free page turning pedals for musicians using computers as music readers. AirTurn is working on a Bluetooth version of its hands free page turner that will be compatible with the iPad. You can see a demo of the prototype at http://airturn.com/press-releases/ipad-bluetooth-page-turner-footswitch-prototype-from-airturn-inc

Let me know if you have any questions or would just like more info about the AirTurn. My email address is hugh@airturn.com

All the best - Hugh Sung"

Bluetooth hands free page turner for iPad coming soon
July 17, 2010

"Concert in the North West ???? We deserve you"

Gail
July 12, 2010

"Wow - just saw your Sky Arts performance on BBC breakfast - love the attitude - classical should be seen to be cool !!! You are doing your bit - love it - going to try and get tickets for your show !"

Gary W
July 12, 2010

"Hi James
I was in the audience at the Mariella Frostrup Book Review in Hay the other day - wonderful left hand playing - I'd never heard of that particular composer - speaking of which, I am a composer - have some music on Discovery Channel so far but also a short piano piece which I would like you to hear - would you be up for having a look at it from a relatively unknown?"

Joanna Bates
June 9, 2010

"Matey
miss ya
glad to see you're getting the Praise you deserve!
Face book me.
I'd love to reconnect
Cheers Tim"

Tim Howar
June 8, 2010

"Idiosyncratic & much fun , thanks!

I would love to hear you play some louis m. gottschalk virtuoso pieces.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Moreau_Gottschalk"

matt
June 6, 2010

"I got the new CD yesterday. First impressions - superb playing, top quality sound. A great CD.

Some people don't like the cover photo. I do.

The video on the bonus CD didn't work here, neither on Mac nor Win NT."

Don Cox
May 9, 2010

"Congrats on your signing..
Your music has reached a new audience. I have teen age kids and they listen. Kudos.
Can't wait to see you in person. May be awhile,since I see no tour dates for Alabama. LOL
Keep doing what you do so well."

Judy Hodes
April 12, 2010

"well done good sir on warners signing"

stujallen
March 26, 2010

"Just postedyour lovely Bach Marcello performance on my blog - thanks for the inspiration!

Cathy
http://allpiano.wordpress.com"

Cathy
March 25, 2010

"Hey Susie - if you email zoe@ghmp.co.uk she'll be able to help :)

Thank and see you in Barbados :)"

James
February 20, 2010

"I am trying to get tickets for James' concert in Barbados on Friday 19th March. There seems to be an error with the official Holders Hill website - I have gone into lots of different websites only to be told theydo not have any knowledge of this concert. Please could you help me.

"

Susie Rowe
February 20, 2010

"Cannot wait to buy this C.D. Do they stock it in Australia? Well done you."

Tracy West
December 13, 2009

"Both you and your musical talent are and and always will be an invaluable inspiration to me. Here's to living your dream!

Love and best wishes
James"

James Terry
December 4, 2009

"This sounds verwy verwy nice!"

Elmer Fudd
November 24, 2009

"Hi James,
A friend took me along to see your perfomance at the Tabanacle last night. I've never been a fan of classical piano before but was so blown away by the energy, both aggression and caress, in your playing.
Watching your fingers on the keys, and again reflected in the piano I felt totally absorbed into it. Not just as music, but the entire power of the experience.
While watching your performance I took a small clip of video, it didn't feel like it did it justice so I deleted it. I would rather you allow me to video you playing.
I am a fine artist and create installations/video/photography. I am interested in enabling people to become engaged with the work and have been recently exploring haptic touch, (or touching with the eyes). Where one can be drawn into the sensation of touch without physically touching but where the eyes recreate the sensation of touch for the viewer. This often involves the close up, altering focus, juxtaposed or grainy image.
Watching you play was a very different experience from hearing your music this morning and has made me want to explore the potential in creating a work to express this haptic sensation. This would not be documenting your playing, but creating a work to try to capture the intrinsic quality in your performance.
What I would love to do is to video close up concentrating solely on two viewpoints. One of the head/face expressions and movement, and the other a close up of just the hands and reflection in the piano.
The expression of the battle of duality. I know from experience that when I am creating it somehow takes me out of being in my head and more in my body, more grounded, I have to do it. somehow I felt the same thing was happening to you when you were playing and would be very interested to be able to explore it further.
I have just finished a fine art degree at Central St Martins, have done a couple of exhibitions since but am not interested in selling work. My work is about exploring possibilities of expression and any video or video installation I create you could have sole rights to.
I know this is long and sorry to bore you but I would really appreciate it if you could respond/reply to me..........or should I just crawl back to the corner I emerged from and hide?

"

Sara Cook
September 27, 2009

"We are passionate classical music lovers and piano that get nice opportunity to listen James Rhodes and especially his magic way to play Chopin and Mozart. We have been conquered immediately by the extreme generosity of James’interpretation . Generosity served by an “eblouissante technique” and extraordinary sensitivity James is not only a great pianist but a prince. Nadia Boulenger which he played the instrument last Friday in Paris would certainly vibrated to his exceptional sensitivity.
We found many interpretations of James on I-tunes including The Quatrieme Ballade de Chopin which is extremely sensitive .
James live music as others breathe, spontaneously with the joy of living.
Those who can go to London and listen James in concert next Saturday will enjoy that moment very much . This will be magic.
La Roque d’Enteron public would appreciate too , if this opportunity might be possible , we are convinced
Apologize for bad English that is sufficient to say that we spent the best musical evening for a long time in a very welcoming ambiance . Simply .
Thanks a lot James for all of that . Thanks to the Guy who gave us hospitality in his very nice flat . He is an artist ,also .
Olivier et Danielle

"

Olivier et Danielle MUZARD-PARIS
September 20, 2009

"Dear James

we spent a beautiful week with you.
Bonne route camarade

"

Laurent & Pierre
September 18, 2009

"James Rhodes is H-O-T"

Tiffy, London
September 15, 2009

"Brilliant stuff. I will listen to this when editing my films...."

Pamela Furness
July 30, 2009

"Hi James,

Nice to meet you last night. As a pianist myself, I was truly inspired by your playing, and by the set-up of the event. My friend has now appointed me as "social secretary."

Thank you for a wonderful evening. I look forward to more concerts in the future.

Mike"

Mike Williams
July 14, 2009

"Hi James,

I will be coming to see your concert on Monday with a friend. As a fellow pianist, it would be great to have a chat with you afterwards. I play a lot of Nikolai Kapustin, jazz, as well as romantic music, and I am starting to play more Bach, such as the Chromatic Fantasy and Fugue. I am really looking forward to listening to you play.

My former teacher Katerinya Lebedevska said that watching a pianist play was like going to church and listening to a sermon. Do you agree?

My e-mail address is: pencerdd@hotmail.com

Cheers,

Mike"

Mike Williams
July 9, 2009

"thanks for the roundhouse performance- next time, can you find a venue which has less of a roof - unless you were next to the piano, I personally feel most of the 'oomph' in emotive pieces was lost. Still overawed by the playing, the knowledge and the humour - a great combination - thanks once again for a great night - roundhouse - excellent work - just lower your ceiling now!"

Paul G
May 30, 2009

"I am so struck by your understanding of Beethoven and realisation of his greatness - indeed,as another has written here, probably the greatest genius of all. Though we always had classical music at home, I didnt discover him until aged 11 but for nearly 50 years now, he has been for me the towering musical colossus. For all Mozarts extraordinary musicality, he never approaches Beethoven's profundity - Beethoven's understanding of the human condition, the wonder of nature and the outdoors,of the vastness of infinity and yet the ONENESS of it and us within it, blows one away when one is lucky enough to be on the same wavelength.
As you say of the opus 111 sonata, the second movement is the absolute consummation and pinnacle of a human's understanding of existence as expressed in music -though time does seem to stop, yet it transports one to another world and dimension - it is cosmic though in its' utter simplicity totally human and so we can relate to it - if we are SO blessed to be able to do so! If only all COULD reach that understanding he did or realise & discover it in his music - our world would indeed be a better and very different and more peaceful one!"

John Somerville
May 23, 2009

"Thank you for your article in the Times 22 May. Beethoven is surely the greatest composer, perhaps the greatest creative artist of any kind, who has ever lived or is likely to live. For me, his secret is that the emotion comes out of the structure of the music, rather than being, as t were,plastered on top, as with the romantics, Wagner and the rest. This is beautifully illustrated by the little Fughetta (var 24) of the Diabelli, where he uses the fugal structure to produce the most moving experience in just a few bars. He generates every conceivable emotion and musical idea, from mind-shattering terror (the second movement of the 3rd symphony) to the depths of sorrow (the second of the Emperor concerto) and everything in between.I am nearly 80 and I have been inspired by this man all my life. If everyone in the world could know him, it would surely be a better place."

David Kaye
May 22, 2009

"Your article in the Times today about Beethoven is refreshingly heartfelt. Beethoven is the composer I always return to for his humour and honesty. His music reminds us there is always a life beyond the mundane, and offers a glimpse of another, higher plane of existence."

Fran Wilson
May 22, 2009

"when will you play in Italy? i watched your concert at Roundhouse in streaming and it was so beautiful!!! You made Bach and Beethoven live again!!"

mario (psychoshining)
May 19, 2009

"Dear James, Great performance. The beauty of such of music should be shared without stiffness nor pretentious settings. My daughter Mercedes thank you for the autograph and sees a mentor on you. We will be there to see you on your next concert. What about one in Guatemala!"

Diana Julieta
May 15, 2009

"We experienced you at the Roundhouse last night. Superlatives and hyperbole are inappropriate. When are you playing again and where? I was enraptured. Great interjection of humour with the pathos of the music. I could have heard more. Even my husband liked it and he is tone deaf. Good for you, keep going."

Catherine Rudd
May 14, 2009

"If you took any photo of the Roundhouse concert last night (even thought no flash photography was allowed!) please email them to info@jamesrhodespianist.com - we'd love to see the event from your POV!"

jamesrhodespianist.com
May 14, 2009

"Hey James, when are you goinng to come and do a concert in Southampton? :-) The Turner Sims is a nice venue! Beth x"

Beth Currie
May 13, 2009

"Discovered you reading Stephen Fry's twits. I'm a music teacher in the US. So glad you found music. So happy you share your gift. Thanks."

LindaShapanka
May 6, 2009

"Can I be regularly updated with your concert performances? Don't want to miss you! Ever."

Emma
May 3, 2009

"I have just read the article in the paper about you 'Sunday Times'I came to the computer to hear you, my God amazing beautiful piece, will come and see you at QEH"

VJM
April 27, 2009

"I read your article on timesonline and what I perceive as your commitment to the truth makes me feel less alone in my own small world of shame and what I can only describe as an inner darkness.

I just cannot wait to see you live!"

Branchingout
April 27, 2009

"Wow, you are very good. I cannot wait to hear more from you.
You make it all sound so exciting, emotional and riveting et al. . .
I wish you all the best James x x"

MoetRooms
April 27, 2009

"I watched the entire Blumenfeld with my mouth open, your a brilliant. I adore how you put so much emotion in all the pieces you play, you make them come alive!"

BrownEyesBella
April 27, 2009

"I'm coming to the Roundhouse too with my son who is fourteen. He has just started formal piano lessons having taught himself the basics from YouTube clips. Listening to him play the piano at home is such a joy and hearing you play this is amazing. So looking forward to your performance in May."

Justaloadoffun
April 27, 2009

"You are so wonderful, have just discovered you by sheer chance on itunes as album cover was so cool....and it led me on an internet journey to discover more! Genius man you really are."

John
April 27, 2009

"Just got the album and have been transported to heaven! You are a marvel .........please record this piece sometime as I cant live without it, sad I know.........look forward to Roundhouse concert"

Scallyman
April 27, 2009