Q&A with Pianist Janice Carissa ('22)
GRAMMY Award-winning conductor Osmo Vänskä teams up with the Curtis Symphony Orchestra for the school’s first-ever West Coast tour of the United States, May 12–22, 2023, following a performance at the gorgeous Longwood Gardens with pianist Janice Carissa (’22) on May 12. Learn more HERE.
A Gilmore Young Artist and winner of Salon de Virtuosi, Janice Carissa has “the multicolored highlights of a mature pianist” (Philadelphia Inquirer) and “strong, sure hands” (Voice of America) that “convey a vivid story rather than a mere showpiece.” (Chicago Classical Review). Ms. Carissa has garnered great acclaim at renowned concert halls and institutions across the world and she recently discussed her upcoming performance with Katie Mobley, Communications Manager at Longwood Gardens.
What does it mean to you to perform as a soloist in the opening concert of Curtis’s West Coast Tour?
This full-circle moment holds a significance that words cannot convey. It was only last May that I was bidding farewell to my fellow graduates, donning our caps and gowns and wishing each other the best for the next stages of our lives. As we parted ways that bittersweet afternoon in Rittenhouse Square, I couldn’t help but wonder when our paths would cross again. The universe had a swift answer for me, as shortly thereafter, I was overcome with emotion as I accepted an invitation to perform alongside my alma mater’s orchestra.
Playing chamber music with friends has always been a cherished experience of mine. Now, I have the privilege of doing so on a grander scale, with friends who have become family. I eagerly anticipate my return to my beloved alma mater and the opportunity to make music in a place that I once called home for a decade!
What does it mean to you to perform at Longwood Gardens?
The prospect of making music in this floral utopia is truly beyond my wildest imaginings.
What are you most looking forward to playing during this performance and why?
I imagine that tackling Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto with a cohort of musicians I share a profound artistic rapport is immensely exciting. The concerto is challenging to put together, but it is also incredibly fun to play!
How does performing outdoors differ from indoors?
The acoustics of open-air environments present an intriguing area of inquiry that I am eager to explore. Truthfully, as unpredictable as nature can be, the prospect of thunderstorms and lightning strikes mid-performance would intensify the dramatic writing of Bartók’s Second Piano Concerto.
Do these pieces take a different shape when performed outdoors vs. indoors?
Since this upcoming concert will mark my debut performance of Bartok’s Second Piano Concerto, I currently only have questions. I may rely on kind souls standing at different points of the space to investigate acoustics and balance. However, I firmly believe that the music itself has the power to convey its intended emotions. I must also recognize that our endeavors are subject to the unpredictable whims of nature.
Watch Janice Carissa’s graduation recital at Curtis’s Field Concert Hall.
What does it mean to you to be a Curtis alum?
Handing in the keycard to my home of ten years was a strange feeling, however, my belief remains steadfast that once a family is formed, that connection remains despite changes in geographical location. The duration of my studies at Curtis was marked by a wealth of experiences that were profoundly meaningful and contributory to my personal development. My engagement with peers, musical endeavors, coaching sessions, and participation in the century-old traditions of Wednesday afternoon teas all played a role in shaping my current self.
Countless leaps of faith and conversations occurring near and far the piano later, I have come to the conclusion that being a Curtis alum means embodying the values of a supportive and encouraging community that empowers individuals to achieve their full potential. What “full” means is a lifelong quest I am excited to embark.
Visit Janice Carissa’s official website HERE.
Q&A with Janice Carissa by Longwood Gardens Communications Manager, Katie Mobley, part of a larger blog post. Click HERE to read “A Beautiful Relationship, a Groundbreaking Performance.”
CURTIS ON TOUR
Curtis Symphony Orchestra West Coast Tour 2023
May 12–22, 2023
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Yefim Bronfman (’77), piano
Janice Carissa (’22), piano
Learn more HERE.
KENNETT SQUARE, PA
Friday, May 12, 2023, at 7 p.m.
Longwood Gardens (Outdoors)
Curtis Symphony Orchestra
Osmo Vänskä, conductor
Janice Carissa (’22), piano
- Dai Wei: Awakening Lion
- Bartók: Piano Concerto No. 2 in G major, Sz. 95
- Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 4
Presented by Longwood Gardens. For tickets and more information, visit www.longwoodgardens.org.
Curtis on Tour is the Nina von Maltzahn Global Touring Initiative of the Curtis Institute of Music.
Awakening Lion by Dai Wei was commissioned by the Curtis Institute of Music for Curtis on Tour, with the support of Allen R. and Judy Brick Freedman.
Orchestral concerts are supported by the Jack Wolgin Curtis Orchestral Concerts Endowment Fund.
Photos of Janice Carissa courtesy of Opus 3 Artists and © Chris McGuire Photography. Photo of Longwood Gardens by Scott Hummel. Photo of the Curtis Symphony Orchestra performing at Konzerthaus Berlin in 2017 by Kai Bienert.