Max Egger

During the time that Tomoko majored in Music at Tokyo National University, she studied with Austrian piano composer Max Egger, who was ending his musical career at that time, dying in 1962.

Max Egger was born in 1863, and was known as a mentor for professional piano performers and composers, such as Jean-Jacques Hauser, Peter Feuchtwanger, Yuko Ninomiya, and Kiyoko Takeuti. 

He was also a performer and composer in his own right. His first opera was “Frau Holda” in 1908. The main character is a Teutonic mythological character who rides the winter science, shakes out her featherbed to make show fall, and watches over women at their spinner. Other operas written by Egger included “Der Trentajer,” “Der Pathe des Todes,” and “Hexenliebe.” He also performed as part of Sad Sillertaler Trio Mayrhofen, which produced several albums. His most famous recording is the 2018 Max Egger Memorial album.

The Japanese music scene appreciated European music as part of their effort to cull the best from Western culture, and encouraged European musicians and composers such as Max Egger to perform and teach in-country. Germanic musicians were particularly in favor. 

Tomoko carries on that love of European piano compositions, be it Schumann or Mozart. She also married an Hungarian and has visited Europe several times.

Hurray for Haydn

Tomoko’s first commercial album includes a piece by Haydn. It was a good starting choice for Tomoko.  Haydn laid the groundwork for so many musicians, just as Tomoko’s first CD album led to ten more CDs of her performances. Several points in Haydn’s life also resonate for Tomoko.

To start with, Haydn was born in Rohrau, Austria, which bordered onto Hungary. Tomoko and Desi wed in Austria, and Desi is Hungarian. 

Haydn’s family was musical. His father was a folk musician, and the family sang together. Tomoko’s father played the violin as a hobby, and Tomoko liked to sing. Tomoko’s brother played organ and piano, and Tomoko followed eagerly.

Haydn started his career as a freelance musician as did Tomoko. He was a music teacher, played the organ at a chapel, and was an accompanist. Likewise, as a high schoolers Tomoko accompanied singers, she taught piano early on, and she played the organ for the local Catholic church while in college. 

When Haydn was building his musical reputation, he gained aristocratic patronage. While studying at the San Francisco Conservatory of Music, one of the board members paid Tomoko’s tuition at one point so she could continue her studies. 

Haydn’s concerts were very popular, as are Tomoko’s. Unlike Haydn though, Tomoko’s concerts include performances with others – as well as solo playing by her friends and students. 

While he lived in Vienna, one of Haydn’s friends was Mozart, and was very impressed with Mozart’s work. Tomoko too was very influenced by Mozart and it’s one of her favorite composers to perform. 

Later, Haydn met and taught a young Beethoven. Similarly, some of Tomoko’s students have become professional musicians and composers in their own right. As for Beethoven himself, Tomoko also considers him one of her favorite composers. 

No wonder that Tomoko is in harmony with Haydn.