Alexandre Dossin’s class is much like a piano concert, albeit one fraught with the struggles of learning how to be a great concert pianist.
In his class at the University, Dossin shares the experience he has gained in his 30 years playing the piano for audiences all over the world. A native of Brazil, Dossin has a unique accent that mixes his native Portuguese with the nine years spent studying at the Moscow Tchaikovsky Conservatory in Russia, and the nine years he has spent in the United States.
One of Dossin’s students finds his worldly experience adds greatly to her own learning.
“As a student, this is a very valuable thing, to study with someone who has experience from many parts of the world,” doctoral music student Matilda Butkas said.
See Alexandre Dossin playAlexandre Dossin has several performances scheduled for the coming months. He will play a free show Oct. 14 at the Westminster Presbyterian Church in Eugene at 3 p.m. He is also scheduled to perform with the University Orchestra on Feb. 3, 2008, at 3 p.m. in Beall Hall and will play a solo show on Feb. 11, 2008, at 8 p.m. in Beall Hall. |
One of the two pianos Dossin keeps in his office in the University’s School of Music and Dance has signatures on it from some of the great pianists of the past whom Dossin holds in high regard. Dossin said he is doing some research into this piano’s travels, because he doesn’t believe the piano, which is owned by the University, was in Eugene when the pianists signed it. He compared the signed piano to the time he spent studying in Russia.
“Those are the small walls where all the greatest studied. That was always important to me, to feel that connection to their energy,” he said. “In a little scale, I think this piano carries that energy too.”
Dossin most recently contributed the CD “Liszt: Verdi Concert Paraphrases and Transcriptions” to “Liszt: Complete Piano Music,” a compilation of the music of Franz Liszt released in the United States this year.
Dossin began playing the piano when he was 5 years old. He played his first performance at age 7.
“The first time I played I was scared to death. My mom was always encouraging,” Dossin said. “Once I played that first time, I said, ‘Mom, I want to do this every night.’”
Dossin said music chose him at an early age, and he can’t imagine doing anything else. Dossin said teaching has made him a better player.
“Teaching and performing really go together. You can’t have one without the other,” he said. “Every time I perform I’m criticizing myself and trying to solve problems. Then I try to apply that experience to the students. In consequence, my playing gets better.”
Butkas enjoys playing unfamiliar pieces from both well-known and unknown composers. During Dossin’s class Monday, Butkas practiced Fauré’s “Preludes,” a dark, dramatic work.
WHO IS FRANZ LISZT?Franz Liszt was born in 1811 in Raiding, Hungary. As a child he moved to Vienna, Austria where he began taking piano and composition lessons. In 1823, Liszt moved with his family to Paris, where he began touring widely as a pianist. By the age of 14, Liszt had written “Don Sanche,” an operetta that was produced in Paris. Shortly thereafter, Liszt’s father died, and the young musician supported his mother by teaching piano lessons. His interest in music waned, and he became an avid reader and devoted himself to literature and religion. The renowned violinist Nicolo Paganini later inspired Liszt to attempt to become his pianist equivalent. Liszt is known as one of the first true piano virtuosos, a sort of musical superstar who had many affairs and many admirers. Liszt is credited with the creation of a new form, the symphonic poem, an orchestral composition in which a poem or program provides the narrative. The first of Liszt’s works in this style, “Ce qu’on entend sur la montagne” was based on a poem by Victor Hugo. Essentially, Liszt attempted to translate the greatest literary works into musical terms. Many view Liszt’s work to have no equal, and credit him with inspiring younger generations of musicians and influencing the course music would later take. Liszt died in Bayreuth, Germany, in 1886. |
“I think he has really interesting ideas about repertoire that is largely unknown,” she said.
Butkas spent two hours with Dossin, one hour in a private lesson and the other in “studio”, where other students are present to offer critique. Butkas said after her sessions she felt inspired and knew what she should do next.
Dossin said he and his students learn together.
“I enjoy giving up all the secrets,” he said.
Canadian Liszt scholar Alan Walker composed a three-book series on the life of Liszt, and has had the pleasure of hearing Dossin perform Liszt’s “Dante” Sonata. Although he has yet to hear the new CD, Walker said the performance was of one of the more demanding pieces Liszt composed.
“Alexandre Dossin’s performance of Liszt’s ‘Dante’ Sonata was notable not only for its technical assurance, but more particularly for its understanding of the work’s musical content. He reminded us that on the deepest level one does not play the piano with one’s hands; one plays the piano with one’s mind,” Walker wrote in an e-mail. “The thinking behind this performance was what made it memorable, and in this age of empty virtuosity it is what makes Dossin a Liszt interpreter to watch.”
Dossin got the opportunity to be a part of the Liszt compilation after he won a 2003 competition in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Martha Argerich, one of the top pianists in the world, was a judge in the contest.
“I’m pretty sure she will remain a legend always,” Dossin said. After winning, Dossin was able to play alongside Argerich in several countries.
Winning first prize helped Dossin’s career, and eventually led to recording the CD two years ago. It was released overseas before Dossin even had a copy.
All three of Dossin’s CDs are available in the Knight Library. Dossin said he usually plays some of the pieces from his latest CD for his students.
“I love performing for them. It’s a big challenge performing for your own students,” he said.
