"Playing in Black and White: Interviews with World Pianists" Author: Jiao Yuanpu Publisher: Guangxi Normal University Press

【Highlights of the Work】

★The first set of first-hand interviews with top pianists in the music world today. The classics are re-emerged in simplified Chinese, traditional Chinese and Japanese versions.

——"Playing Black and White: Interviews with World Pianists" was first published in 2007, mainly including 53 interviews with pianists by Jiao Yuanpu from 2002 to 2007, totaling 530,000 words. The 2019 new edition updates and condenses the original interview content to 440,000 words. Among the original 55 pianists, 30 have new content, and 53 more pianists have been added. Finally, it has become a magnificent work containing 106 interviews, 1.07 million words, 108 pianists, and 109 musicians. It can be called a history of classical music in progress.

★A true legend that rivals the novel, a master class on paper with every word being solid. Highly recommended by leaders in the publishing, music and cultural fields: Jimmy Liao, Lin Hwai-min, Lü Shao-chia, Jimmy Liao, Yang Zhao, Sylvia Chang and James H. Chan.

——Zimmerman's only long interview in 30 years, Janis disclosed for the first time the details of music diplomacy during the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union, the thrilling experience of Paik Kun-woo and his wife being kidnapped by agents, the collective memories of Russian pianists about the Iron Curtain era, the life trajectories of Pogorelich, Deng Taishan, Hoff, Bavej and others spanning a decade... From famous masters to rising stars in the music world, from Paris to Moscow, Vienna, Taipei, and New York, the interview content is not only about music, but also includes the musicians' discussions on art, culture, politics, society, family and life. Music lovers and music learners can broaden their horizons and gain a lot from the book by taking a panoramic view of the history of piano performance, the changes in schools and styles, and the inheritance of important masters from the 20th century to the present. Ordinary readers can also use this book to start thinking about music and culture.

★1999-2019, music writer Jiao Yuanpu's 20 years of precious live records tracked 108 world-class pianists, radiating to 30 classical music capitals around the world, and outlining a brilliant star map of many pianists from the 20th century to the present.

—— Jiao Yuanpu, with his amazing diligence and love for classical music, has created his own unique field of music appreciation, planning, and promotion, which has changed the performance and listening environment of classical music in Taiwan, and has expanded his influence to mainland China and Japan. From 1999 to 2019, Jiao Yuanpu visited major pianists around the world, and put his 20 years of hard work into this precious interview record, which will lead musicians and ordinary readers into the master-level music hall with a broader vision and deeper insights.

【Media Recommendation】

Combining his pure love for piano music with his profound knowledge, Jiao Yuanpu is a man of temperament who can explore the innermost heart of an artist. Therefore, "Playing in Black and White" is not only a precious record of his 20 years of visiting major piano masters around the world, but also a wonderful story that flashes with life wisdom and explores the truth of life. This book is easy to understand and highly readable. Musicians and general readers should not miss it!

──Lü Shaojia, internationally renowned conductor, music director of the Taiwan Philharmonic

I have never studied music, and I feel inferior and anxious when choreographing. After reading Yuan Pu's books and listening to the music he mentioned, I have learned to chant even though I cannot write poetry. Yuan Pu's books make me feel that classical music is full of human warmth and is approachable and lovely. Only Yuan Pu has this ability!

——Lin Hwai-min, founder of Cloud Gate Dance Theatre

Jiao Yuanpu took me to the first step of classical music. Because of this step, I eliminated the inexplicable resistance caused by not understanding, and began to understand why the young man was so fascinated by these creations hundreds of years ago, and the performers who have been in love with classical music all their lives. Every piece of music is an emotion, just like every interview with Yuanpu. As a reader, in addition to gratitude, I look forward to him taking me to listen to more wonderful performances. At this point, it is better to enjoy his latest edition of "Playing Black and White".

──Sylvia Chang, famous actress and film director

How lucky we are to have this set of books open a magical window to music for us. See how contemporary legendary pianists play the most moving music

──Jimmy Liao, famous picture book artist

Twelve years later, the new edition of "The Black and White of Entertainment" has finally arrived. When the old edition came out, Jiao Yuanpu was an unprecedented new star in the Taiwanese music world. He used this book to open up a deep and beautiful world of piano music for readers. When the new edition was released, Jiao Yuanpu had already created his own unique field of music appreciation, planning, and promotion. He not only changed the performance and listening environment of classical music in Taiwan, but also expanded his influence to mainland China and Japan. "The Black and White of Entertainment" has never been outdated. From the old edition to the new edition, it witnesses Yuanpu's broader vision, deeper understanding, and more confident insights. To achieve such growth, he relied on his more diligent and unremitting efforts - gathering the life and musical confessions of 108 top pianists in one book. The preparation and persistence behind this should be enough to write another book!

——Yang Zhao, writer and literary critic

About the Author