Fusako KONDO / Vocal Professor, Conservatoire à Rayonnement Régional de PARIS / Paris, France

The "Listen to Musicians" section is a section where professionals who usually play music on the stage go down the stage and speak in words.This time, we would like to interview a guest, Ms. Tomisako Kondo, who is active as a professor of vocal music in Paris. I would like to talk about the theme of "studying abroad in music."
(Interview: March 2011)

After graduating from Musashino Academia Musicae, studied at a major.Interested in French music since college, studied abroad at the Paris Conservatory, and received the First Prize in the vocal music department and opera department.Enrolled in Perfection nement for the first time in Japan. 2nd place in the s'Hertogenbosch International Competition (Netherlands), 3rd place in the Viotti Competition (Italy), and 1st place in the Rio de Janeiro International Competition (Brazil).While still a student at the Paris Conservatory, he started performing as a recital and oratorio soloist.Performed mainly in France in Italy, Belgium, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom. Active in operas such as Monteverdi (ottavia) Glück Mozart (Fiordigigli, La Contessa…), Puccini (Mimi, Butterfly, Suora Angelica, Liù) Gounod (Marguerite) Massenet Bizet.In the oratorio, he sings the requiem of Bach, Beethoven 9th Missa Solemnis, Mozart, Rossini, Mendelssohn, Verdi, while in the recital he works on French, German, Spanish and Italian songs.He married the composer Alain Margoni (Prix de Rome, Professor Emeritus of the Paris Conservatory) and is also focusing on contemporary music.Currently a professor at the National Conservatory of Paris.Active as a judge in master classes and international competitions.　


Kondo After graduating from Musashino Academia Musicae, I went to the Paris Conservatory to study abroad and graduated at the top, and then went to graduate school.After that, while working as a performer, I started to teach at school, and I have continued to this day.

Kondo: Immediately after I entered elementary school, music became fun and I learned to play the piano.Then, when I was in the first year of high school, I started chorusing in club activities and then started to be interested in vocal music.

Kondo I was interested in French things and wanted to do it.

Kondo: Some of my friends went to Germany and Italy.I majored in French at school, so I was wondering if I could do something about it.Even babies would remember the words there if they lived there (laughs). I was able to talk about "hello" and "thank you".

Kondo: I'm only studying abroad in France, so I'm not sure ...Personally, I'm glad that I went to study for myself and met sensei who taught me that, and I was able to study there.It's more important to meet a good sensei than to go to any country.At first, I got the sensei given at school, but after a year or two, the direction I wanted to do came out, so I moved to another sensei to teach.

Kondo: There are entrance exams and graduation exams, right?How many people will be available by the test?The first problem is how many people are available in the sensei that I want to have, and I can't enter without it.At the current Paris Conservatory, it is possible to write from the first choice to the third choice.I think you should think about which sensei you will get when you have decided what you want to study.

Kondo: Make sure you decide what kind of sensei you want to learn.That is important.This is a music school, not a university.I'm studying to become a specialist.Therefore, unlike Japanese universities, it is not a system that allows you to graduate in four years if you study to some extent.So, I think that all the graduates say "chief", but if you are not the chief, you will not graduate.In my year, there were only three or four chiefs.People who don't have it won't graduate.The first prize was graduation, but the second prize was not.It seems that the system is getting closer to the university now.

Kondo: I have to be prepared for that and study.Now that the Paris Conservatory has changed, it is no longer possible for only the first prize to graduate, and there are times when we will win a prize.Not everyone can get it, though.

Kondo: What I think most from the perspective of sensei is that Japanese people have too many relationships with each other.I think it's a problem.It's a waste to get along with Japanese people until you come to Europe.

At the Kondo National Conservatory of Paris, there are about 100 people.There are three people in my class.Voice is only in my class, so students help each other and live.It seems that there aren't only Japanese people

Kondo: I think there are many piano departments.Originally there are many people.

Kondo: There are few, 16 people.Only I have sensei.France, Turkey, South Korea, USA.There are about 4 French people.

Kondo There is no such thing.If you have the ability.

Kondo Many of the people who come to this school are students but want to learn more.There are Japanese people who say, "I'm going to study abroad to put on foil," but that's not the case.I am clearly aware of what I am studying abroad in France for.It's the same for people from any country.However, some Japanese and Koreans want a diploma to go back to their own country and teach.First of all, I want you to be an artist.After that, I want you to become sensei.

Kondo It just happens to be.I was asked by someone I knew, "Since sensei is ill, please act on your behalf."

Kondo: Nowadays, I can't qualify to teach unless I pass the exam to become a sensei at school.After graduating from school, I have to study more to become sensei.Because it wasn't there in our time.

Kondo: In my case, I received an award at a competition while I was in school.So I went to the theater audition and the director asked me to go to the next stage.After that, little by little, I started to manage and proceeded.

Kondo It's difficult (laughs).First of all, life without music is unthinkable.My husband is a composer, but neither of us wanted to make this a profession.When I was studying what I liked, I became a profession.It's the only state.I didn't want to be like this, I didn't like it, I didn't like it, I wanted to know that, and I was studying to know this, and I feel like I've come to this point.I didn't have anything else to do (laughs).

Kondo: I've never thought about what I could do other than music.This is normal, for me.I think that's the case with everyone who lives on music.

Kondo I'm an Italian-French.A composer and a Prix de Rome winner, he was an analyst at the Paris Conservatory.It happened that I sang a song that he composed.

Kondo: In his case, he started studying at the Paris Conservatory when he was about 11 years old.As I said earlier, the Conservatory is not a university.I'm a person who only plays music.

Kondo I used to sing what he composed.But it's not that fun (laughs).It will be a big deal. I even yelled at each other like "Why can't I do this !?" and "Because it's badly written!" (Laughs).When it comes to specialization, each other is tough on that path.So I tried not to work with my husband.

Both my husband and I like visiting museums.That kind of thing fits together.

Kondo I've been there once.Since then, I haven't been able to come because of work or the eruption of Iceland.I eat all kinds of Japanese food, so I would like to bring it back.

Kondo: It's about getting your students to create music that only you can do.Nowadays, music comes in from various places, and while listening to it, everyone can only make similar music.I want you to read the score, have the lyrics, read them carefully, and find out how you want to express them.I want you to imagine only the score in your head. It's not interesting to hear people say, "I was doing this when I heard everyone's performance."

Kondo: When you read a book, you get an image, right?You can see the scenery and imagine the hero's gestures, right?It's the same as that.I want you to look at the book and create your own image without looking at the image first.It's interesting because it depends on the person.It will take some time to get there, but I hope you take the time to do it.I think that's what it means to read music.I read between sounds.

Kondo It's difficult, but it's fun.And it's fun and I can't stop (laughs)


Kondo composer is a creator.We musicians are people who help creators.It's a matter of how you can do that.

Kondo That's the interesting part.The taste changes depending on the performer, which is an interesting point.It's possible that it's not what the composer intended.Some famous performers say, "I don't like this kind of performance by this person. I don't think so."But I think that's fine.

Kondo: When I was a high school student, one sensei listened to the performances of various people with the same song, which was very interesting.That sensei himself was a composer.Listen to Beethoven's symphony in various conductor versions.

Kondo: I like this song because it's really good to have this person play it.

Kondo Yes.I want to create such a musician.I am working hard.

Kondo: What I'm doing is finding the thread and pulling it out.Students will study just by teaching them how to study.I always say, "What I'm saying isn't all right. Find everything you think is right."Besides, I don't want to be called "sensei".So everyone calls it Fusako.I don't feel like working, it's really fun.

Kondo Please come and see us next time.People from other musical instruments often come, but the door to my class is always open, so it's a system that asks you to come in and listen to it. When asked "Can I come to see you?", "Of course!"Isn't it inspiring for my students to hear various stories?

Kondo: I think the technique is to be able to sing even when you catch a cold.People who stand on the stage cannot rest on the stage even if they have a fever.

Kondo: I want you to know that songs have other elements besides voice.You can express without a voice.You can express without a beautiful voice.It's just a slight cold and doesn't affect the song.Other than voice is the most important.Voice is a tool, and expression is the most important thing.When you enter an expression, you can hear the expression instead of the voice.How emotions go out.

Kondo For example, I hate the voice of a crow, but I think her expression is wonderful.That's right.

Kondo: When someone is angry, it's not a pretty voice, but you can tell that you're angry, just like that.You can see that I'm sad because I'm sad not with my voice but with other things.It's strange, but I think it's attractive and everyone is doing it.Both pianists and violinists have sounds and sounds, but there is something other than sounds, right?

Kondo: No, you don't have to listen to it because it's hard to read.The ability of the audience is not necessary to determine whether it is transmitted or not.The ability of the performer.I think it's okay if the audience likes or dislikes it.

Kondo I think that's fine.No need to understand.Whether you were impressed.

Kondo That's right.I think that's fine.I think art is normal because there are good times and bad times.Even for those who listen, it will change depending on the state at that time.I think you don't have to stiffen your head.

Kondo Music is a luxury.If you have a chance to do that, I would like you to make a great effort to make a good product.Even if you can't do it now, you will be able to do it if you make an effort, so don't forget to do it every day.Also, people who play music shouldn't just listen to music, I want them to be interested in other things as well.When you come to France, you can eat French bread, drink wine, eat cheese, and so on. As you incorporate it into your life, you can see French music.People who go abroad can understand music by eating the food of that country.As I look at the paintings at the museum, I can understand the feeling of the country.If you know how to live, it will lead to music.It is impossible to study only techniques.

Kondo: Otherwise, there's no point in going.