MUMBAI: Part of the new generation of western classical artists who are impressing critics and audiences alike with their understanding and talent of western classical music, Rahel Sen is a young Swiss pianist who has already composed, performed and directed five musicals. She has performed around the world and has won numerous awards – all at a young age of 25.
Born to a Swiss father and Singaporean mother, Senn was a prodigious child. A self-confessed problem child, Senn found her calling when she took up piano at the Conservatory of Lucerne. By the time she was 17, she wrote and produced her first award-winning musical ‘Totaler Wahnsinn!’ and followed it with another –‘Sanskaja’ at 19.
“Music just came to me at a very young age, and we became good friends, and things got started, hence it was never difficult. I studied classical piano at the Conservatory of Lucerne, and was able to compose musicals at 17. I could express myself through my music, and hence thoroughly enjoy these challenges,” Senn said.
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Senn, who has made her mark at a young age, can speak seven languages and also play guitar. She has explored her landscape pretty well with more musicals from ‘Merry X’mas’ (2010) to ‘Save the Gryphon’ (2012), solo performances, directing music for films (‘ Elegy’, ‘Dawn’), membership of chamber music and winning scholarships and awards including the prestigious ‘Young Steinway Artist International’ award in 2012.
However, the pianist cares more about her performance than the awards. “It’s never been about winning awards. Instead being recognized as a true musician and being able to express oneself through music was of prime importance to me. As an Eurasian and somebody who grew up with seven languages, you never really know where you belong. Music became my very own language,” she said.
Speaking about her new musical ‘SAVE A GRYPHON’, Senn said, “It is a composition that I have done for Raffles Institution in Singapore. I have written the script and the music. The story is about how our world would lose its colors if we stop expressing ourselves through the arts.”
Senn has developed a style that fuses and blends classical music with pop music which has widened her repertoire. Her current ‘Retour ? l’Art Brut’, which is a full classical concert tour also has its roots in pop music. “POP ZYMPHONYS was the title which I had chosen for my solo-compositions before I named it ‘Retour ? l’Art Brut’. The idea was to merge pop-music and classical music. I chose to use the later instead as it was more suitable. ‘Retour ? l’Art Brut’ is a mix of easy melodies with some slight pianistic challenges,” she said.
Senn’s ‘Retour ? l’Art Brut’ world tour will cover Europe and Asia including India. Senn’s repertoire will include Totaler Wahnsinn as well as the Sanskaja with other classical pieces.
“My concert consists of my solo-piano-compositions. In the last years, especially during my studies under the tutorship of Konstantin Lifschitz, I have built up an intense relationship with piano. I’ve learned how to express using the voice of piano. I have also tried to find a way of expression that is innocent and clear, the language of a child, maybe,” she said.
Opining on the nature of classical music and the significance of music, Senn said, “Classical music is not an elitist music, it’s a universal language. The purity and innocence with which the thoughts flow and become melodious tunes, in my opinion, is something that draws people to any form of music. I’m still learning more on Indian music, and fascinated by the different styles and expressions. I find bollywood music very interesting. Since this is my first visit to India, I would love to see how people react to my kind of music,” Senn said.
Reminiscing about her most satisfying concert Senn said, “I remember performing at a school concert when I was just nine years, and post the event was personally congratulated by the audience as well as my teachers. That was the most satisfying moment till date.”
Rahel Senn will be performing her first concert in India at the Moevenpick Hotel & Spa, Bangalore on the 8 September 2012.
