Pablo Ferrández-Castro – Quatrième prix

Les invités de votre soirée idéale ?

Beethoven, Schumann and Stradivarius.

Votre plat préféré ?

I love big meals! I love Cheeseburgers (the ideal burger is: Bacon, cheese and BBQ sauce, medium rare always!) and Italian and Mexican food.

Votre devise ?

Live, laugh, love and work hard.

Votre plus grande source d'inspiration ?

Puff! I don't think I could name them all, we are so lucky that we have such incredible artists around. Janine Jansen, Maria Joao Pires, Martha Argerich... my list is way too long! But I can say, to make the list shorter, that in the past months I have found myself listening most to Gidon Kremer, Christoph Eschenbach and Daniil Trifonov. Three incredible artists that inspire me every day.

Le conseil que vous donneriez à votre enfant si vous aviez 80 ans ?

Professionally I would tell them, that if they believe in something strongly enough, don’t let anyone tell you that it can’t be done, sometimes it is good to go away from the "marked path" to learn and improve. Also, I would tell them to value very much those special loved ones, because life has big ups and downs and those people are, after all, the most important thing we have.

Ce que vous aimeriez que les gens disent de vous ?

This question makes me a bit uncomfortable! But I think I would want them to say that I am a good person.

Votre truc pour surmonter le trac ou votre rituel avant de monter sur scène ?

Stage fright: I think nerves and tension are unavoidable, whenever you are on stage there is always a certain amount of stress, sometimes more sometimes less. I think it slowly gets better after years performing. Experience is really key here. I think the beginning of the concert is always the most difficult, and the fastest you can manage to feel comfortable, the better, so you can focus in what really matters - the music! What I find very helpful is to visualize yourself on stage playing and feeling good, to imagine that feeling when you practice or when you are in bed about to sleep. After, if you happen to be nervous during the concert, you can easily access the feeling that you “rehearsed.”

Quand vous jouez... pour qui jouez-vous ?

If there is someone that I know in the audience, I usually play thinking that I’m playing for them. What I look for the most, is communication with the audience, if that connection happens, then both ends of the performance, the performer and listener will enjoy it very much. If that connection doesn’t happen, then the purpose of music haven’t been achieved, and that is quite upsetting for me. But who knows, sometimes you are lucky and something magical happens in the hall. I guess, that is for what we musicians devote our lives to, those rare and sacred moments.

Le métier que vous n'auriez pas aimé exercer ?

I enjoy very much having my own schedule. I think a job that would take that away would make me unhappy.

La chanson (pas classique) que vous écoutez en boucle sur votre smartphone ?

Jay Z: The Black Album.

Les trois choses que vous apporteriez sur une île déserte ?

Well hopefully they have internet in that island! I would bring my iPhone with some nice headphones, music is essential, my favorite TV shows (friends, the wire, sopranos, breaking bad etc) and a fast vehicle in which to travel around and have some fun (now that no one is watching!).

Le son / bruit que vous préférez ? Et celui que vous ne supportez pas ?

I love cars, so my favorite noise? The noise from a great car engine. Most annoying sound, probably an alarm that doesn’t stop.

L'endroit où vous voudriez vivre ?

Since I'm getting older, my city Madrid is growing deeper and deeper on me. It is such a beautiful city! Also I’m crazily in love with Paris.

La première chose à laquelle vous pensez lorsqu'on vous dit « Tchaïkovski » ?

Competition.

La première chose à laquelle vous pensez lorsqu'on vous dit « Concours » ?

Tchaikovsky. What were you expecting ? It has mostly been the only thing in my head for the last few months!