Cover Indonesian-British pianist George Harliono on growing up around music
Indonesian-British pianist George Harliono on growing up around music
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Before his performance at the Esplanade Concert Hall on July 19, we catch up with the young star as he shares his journey as a pianist
George Harliono isn’t your average pianist. At the tender age of nine, the British-born Indonesian performed his first solo piano recital. Later, at the age of 12, he held his first concerto debut. Three years later, he attained a full scholarship for a full degree programme at The Royal College of Music in London.
Today, he is lauded as one of the most eminent young concert pianists in the world—and it’s thanks to his talent and solid musical foundation.
Music has always been around him, especially as a child. Harliono shares that his older brother, Joshua, plays the violin and watching him perform had intrigued him so much that he wanted to play too.
He says: “Hearing my brother play and the music that my parents always listened to at home is what got me interested in music to start with.”
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Above His childhood home also had an old and worn out upright piano which the brothers would play with.
His childhood home also had an old and worn out upright piano which the brothers would play with.
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Growing up, his family didn’t own a television. “It wasn’t because my parents couldn’t afford one but because they realised the detrimental effect that watching TV for hours every day would have on the creativity of a child,” he shares.
So, instead of glueing his eyes to a screen all day, his older brother and him would invent games, sing and ride their bikes outdoors. When his sister Adelaide was born, she would also join in on the games. “Our home was always full of games and music. [It was] very, very noisy,” the pianist recounts.
His childhood home also had an old and worn out upright piano which the brothers would play with. He shared that it made such a terrible noise every time they played—so much that his mum “got so fed up with it that she found a local piano teacher to tame us”.
Above When he started lessons, he found that he enjoyed playing and would spend hours practising and trying out new things.
When he started lessons, he found that he enjoyed playing and would spend hours practising and trying out new things.
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When he started lessons, he found that he enjoyed playing and would spend hours practising and trying out new things. Reminiscing on his early days, he shares: “I remember there was a small music competition which was held in a town close to where we lived. My mum thought it would be interesting for me to enter the competition.” Harliono would go on to triumph and win first prize at that competition, at the age of seven.
His love for music grew stronger after that. At 13, he left school to pursue music. “I absolutely knew I wanted to be a musician and the piano was always the instrument with which I felt the greatest affinity,” Harliono shares. He adds that creating and sharing music with others has always come naturally to him.
Since his concerto debut at the age of 12, he has been a regular performer with various orchestras including the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, The Mariinsky Orchestra, Tatarstan National Symphony Orchestra and more.
Being a young pianist does come with its own difficulties. While Harliono never found it hard to learn pieces, he had to learn to balance his time at a young age. While he was in school, he had to negotiate for time off from lessons to be able to travel for his performances and competitions. “I often found myself sitting on a plane trying to finish my school homework while returning home after a performance, which was sometimes rather problematic,” he explains.
Over the years, he has encountered various obstacles, from trying to fit in with his peers to being criticised as a musician.
Regardless of the problems he faces, they are never insurmountable for him. The pianist’s love for music and his focus on giving his all is something that allows him to overcome his obstacles.
“Not everyone will agree with the stylistic or interpretational choice I make. However, I believe that the best musicians are those that have something new and interesting to say. All I can do is try and play authentically and honestly,” he says. When it comes to criticism, Harliono tries to take it positively, using it as a way to reflect on his performance.
While life as a pianist can seem quite glamorous, it is still hard work. When he is home in the UK, he spends his days practising, taking on interviews and learning new pieces. But, when he is abroad, his days are filled with long flights, practising in a studio and performances.
Being a concert pianist isn’t quite like an office job; nevertheless, the life of a musician is certainly never dull. He shares: “How could I be bored when I meet the most interesting people, visit the most beautiful places and perform in some of the best concert halls in the world?”
His musical journey has led him to perform in some of the biggest concert halls and worked alongside prestigious artists and conductors, including Denis Matsuev, Valery Gergiev and Alexander Sladkovsky. Harliono has been invited to perform in various festivals, including the oldest classical music festival in Poland, the Duszniki-Zdroj International Chopin Piano Festival.
He has also recently achieved the Silver Award (2nd Prize) at the XVII International Tchaikovsky Competition 2023 in Moscow, one of the most prestigious competitions in the world.
Of course, the young pianist isn’t stopping there. He hopes to continue sharing his music and his love for the instrument around the world. “We can learn so much from music… it brings people together, teaches up about teamwork and discipline, and even improve our confidence,” he explains.
Harliono will make his debut in Singapore with The Philharmonic Orchestra on July 29 at the Esplanade Concert Hall in celebration of Sergei Rachmaninoff 150th Anniversary. Purchase tickets at sistic.com.
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Amanda Goh was the former senior writer for Tatler Singapore.
