A lesson from the soccer squad: Unscripted, intuitive, intentional artistry!
Yes, the Soccer World Cup will be on everyone’s minds and in everyone’s newsfeeds for a while, uniting the world through the shared language of a ball, open space and trendy outfits (unless you’re the Norwegian team, of course, and prefer to lean into the historical angle.) It’s hard to be immune to the spirit of anticipation, the determination, the sheer physicality and dramatic intensity that not only the games themselves but also the buildup to international sporting events create. And whether you’re “getting” all the celebrities and Easter eggs in Nike’s elaborate “Rip the Script” commercial (“a rallying cry for football lovers everywhere,” according to Nike’s website), there is a whole lot to be said for the underlying message: ditch the playbook, be creative, lead with your instincts, keep it joyful and trust your gut. Pretty much what Portland Piano International does for the piano, I’d say.
As we start the buildup to yet another spectacular season, prepare to feel inspired, motivated and united through one instrument, one stage and timeless music. What we’re choreographing for you, with the grit and determination of athletes, is a global spectacle of breathtaking prowess at the piano – bringing together four continents on paper, but a whole universe in spirit.
What unites a Venezuelan, a Chinese American, a Polish Canadian, an Israeli, an Israeli-American, an American and a Dutchie? Not only sharing the Portland Piano International stage. Not only the fact that they all have some affiliation to the acclaimed Pentatone recording label or the fascinating reality that a connection to London and the Royal Academy of Music seem to be an intersection they all share. Not only the fact that, despite very diverse styles and approaches to playing, they’ve all at some point gravitated towards Chopin.
What they ultimately share is an unorthodox and spontaneous approach to music-making, prioritizing human connection and imaginative freedom over predictability and assembly-line perfectionism. Each of their performances are intimate conversations and their approaches to their careers are unorthodox and intuitive.
To us, that’s what true pianism is about. To us, that’s what we call ripping the script!