Monthly Archives: January 2013

2013
31
Jan

Recital, “Les jeudis du piano”, Société des Arts de Genève


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Palais de l’Athénée, Geneva, Switzerland

La Societe des arts de Geneve fidèle à sa devise ARTIBUS PROMOVENDIS continue inlassablement sa mission de promotion de l’art et des jeunes artistes afin de leur servir de tremplin pour leur future carrière.

Fondée en 1776, la Société des Arts de Genève est l’une des plus anciennes académies d’ Europe à but culturel. Créée par l’horloger Louis Faizan et le naturaliste Horace Bénédict de Saussure, elle a compté parmi ses présidents et ses membres, nombre de savants suisses, d’artistes et d’esprits éclairés qui ont tous participé à la vie culturelle et économique de la cité. Cette Société fonctionne comme les anciennes académies d’antan, avec trois sections appelées «Classes» (Beaux-Arts, Industrie et Commerce, Agriculture et Art de Vivre) et, depuis l’année 2000, elle a décidé de s’ouvrir à la musique en créant, «Les Jeudis du Piano», saison musicale ouverte aux jeunes solistes en début de carrière.

Avec cette dixième saison des «Jeudis du Piano», la musique a désormais trouvé une place de choix au sein des différents programmes de la Société des Arts de Genève. Ces concerts attirent un large public par leurs programmes de qualité et la découverte de nouveaux talents.

»Les Jeudis du Piano« rayonnent loin à la ronde et, déjà, plusieurs jeunes pianistes reçus au cours de ces dernières années réalisent une belle carrière à travers le monde.

Source: Palais de l’Athénée, Société des Arts de Genève official website

2012
29
Sep

Screening of “I am not a rock star” and recital

Vancouver International Film festival, Empire Granville Theater, Vancouver, Canada

Possessing the talent of a prodigy can be both a blessing and a curse. At an age when most people are fumbling through adolescence, gifted young musician Marika Bournaki was already embarking on a prestigious career as a concert pianist. But was this wunderkind truly born to perform?

This intimate portrait follows Bournaki from age 12 to 20, documenting the growing pains experienced in these critical years, and the pressures heaped on her by a life of practice, performance and touring. Throughout, her father-turned-manager, a Juilliard-trained violinist himself, is devoted to encouraging her efforts and nurturing the international music career he was never able to achieve. When, at 16, Bournaki leaves her parents’ home in Montreal to study at Juilliard, she comes into her own as a musician, rebels against the course plotted out for her since the age of five, and experiences an intense period of self-discovery and growth.

Director Bobbi Jo Hart provides a rare and candid look inside the insular world of classical music, uncovering the elusive alchemy of talent, determination, sacrifice and luck required to make it to the top. We witness Bournaki mature from child prodigy to vivacious adult before our eyes, watch her incredible musical talent evolve, and feel the bittersweet sacrifice one family makes over time to help her become a star.

More information: Vancouver International Film festival official website

2012
3
Nov

Screening of “I am not a rock star”

Barcelona In-edit Documentary Film Festival, Barcelona, Spain

Canadian child prodigy Marika Bournaki plays the piano like God, but is starting to rebel against expectations and family pressure. A raw ritual of rupture and disenchantment: from 12 to 20 years old, from girl to woman, and from genius to person.

Possibly the most thorough examination of the phenomenon of child prodigies that ever was. Uber-gifted Canadian pianist Marika Bournaki has been playing the instrument like God since a very tender age, guided through the academic voyage by the firm hand of her father and teacher. I Am Not a Rockstar sets about documenting a coming of age process (from 12 to 20) that soon unravels unexpected circumstances, and the crude process of rupture (in both family and professional spheres) that explodes in a hurricane of teenage rage and angst about personal freedom. A genius that claims to be more than just that, and demands the restoration of her humanity and normality. The film investigates the causes of this disenchantment (expectations from frustrated artist parents (violinist father and ballerina mother), non-existent childhood, aspiration overload…) and registers every bend in the rocky road to fame. The end result is an accurate examination of the duality of passion/business (“I love music, but I don’t like playing for people. I’m not a rockstar”), and a crystalline analysis of family conflicts and the wear and tear produced by growing up in the public eye. From girl to woman, and from genius to person. 

Bobbi Jo Hart is an award-winning Canadian director, producer, photographer, writer and researcher. She’s also versatile: some of her previous works deal with women’s tennis, nurses in Pakistan and mothers with nervous depression.

Bobbi Jo Krals-Hart will introduce the film on Saturday 3th at 22:30h at Aribau Club 2

2012
8
Nov

Screening of “I am not a rock star”

Napa Valley Film Festival, Napa, USA

Shot over eight years, I Am Not A Rock Star is the coming-of-age journey of fiery, Juilliard-trained pianist Marika Bournaki, who will stop at nothing to become a world-class concert pianist. Marika’s parents never realized their own youthful dreams in music and ballet; but they saw their daughter’s raw talent as early as age 5. Her father-turned-manager risked everything – including his career, family and marriage – to make Marika into a star. From child prodigy accolades at age 9, to backstage tears and moving alone to New York City to study at Juilliard at age 14, the film includes behind-the-scenes footage at concerts, airports, auditions and in hotel rooms around the world. On the cusp of international stardom at age 20, Marika has performed at Carnegie Hall, the Verbier Festival, had an audition with a major recording label, and found her first love – but also finds out her parents are divorcing and begins to question her path. With over 130 hours of footage in nearly a dozen international locations, this is a process film shot in cinema veritթ style about chasing an elusive dream and the cost that comes with it.

Generously supported by Pepper and Michael Jackson.


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