We give opportunities to contestants who did not pass the preliminary stages to hold a home concert so that they can play repertoires they prepared for this competition. And so that the contestants and the people in Hamamatsu can communicate and have a nice time together. To our advertising, 14 families from Hamamatsu and Hamakita city offered to hold home concert in their house. (Thank you so much!)

Mr. Konstantin SOUKHOVETSKI from Russia has been staying at the Kanekos in Hamakita city since Nov.16th. He held a concert at home of the Kanekos family on Nov.17th. When we arrived their house, which is 45 minutes from Act city by car, there was already a sound of piano.

Entering the home quietly not to disturb, Mr. SOUKHOVETSKI was playing the grand piano in the living room. The sounds without a long distance were really powerful!
The audience enjoyed the performance as they like a person who closes the eyes and bends the ears to his performance, a person who gazes at the move of his fingers and , audience listened closely without moving a muscle.

Audience was formed with about 30 members of Hamakita International Friendship Association which Mrs. Harumi Kaneko, a host person belongs to. Finishing the performance, there was a burst of applause! Miss Saki Kurihara, a junior high school student, gave him a bouquet. Her family also receives a contestant by Mr. Mikko Merjanen from Finland.

At this home concert, Mr. SOUKHOVETSKI played;
F. Schubert /F. Liszt: Soiree in Vienne No.3
R. Schumann: Sonata No.1 in f sharp minor op.11
G. Faure: Nocturne in e flat minor op.33-1
F. Chopin: Sonata No.2 in b flat minor op.35
A. Skryabin: Etude in d sharp minor op.8-12 "pathetique"

"That was a wonderful performance!" "This is a precious experience for me to listen to his performance closely, " the audience said. There was also an unique comment. "The suit he wears is so cool."

In the chat after the performance, Mrs. Kato asked Mr. SOUKHOVETSKI to play improvisations. Request number was "Be with you forever", It's a song of Mr. Yuzo KAYAMA, Japanese singer, and was popular around 2 decades ago. Everybody sang with his piano. On the other hand, grandmother looked at him as if looking at her grandchild.

Home concert was really successful!! Mr. SOUKHOVETSKI told us that he could get along with everyone immediately. He added, "It was a lot of fun! I'll come to Japan again. Absolutely!"

He goes back on Nov. 18th. Thank you for your great performance! Take care of yourself, and see you again!