Oberlin Portrait: Daniela Flonta

Daniela Flonta's relationship with Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto (the "Emperor") predates her journey to the United States from Romania, her success in European and American competitions (including Oberlin's Concerto Competition, which she won last fall), and even her initial decision to study the piano.

"When I was very small, my family would listen to classical music on the radio and on recordings. My siblings and I particularly loved this piece. We didn't really understand that this was Beethoven's Fifth Piano Concerto; we just knew it was 'the Emperor.' My younger brother, who was then 2, would 'conduct' the orchestra from our living room."

On Friday, February 28, in the absence of her younger brother (who is now studying violin at the Bucharest Conservatory), Flonta and the Oberlin Orchestra will perform the concerto she's known longer than the piano itself. Associate Professor of Conducting Steven Smith will conduct.

Catching Daniela between her graduate school auditions, practicing, and teaching proved as rewarding as it was tricky. She approaches her life and music with grit, independence, and a full date book.

"It's very hard to be a musician," she says. "Even if you're able to rise above the competition to support yourself in a career, the workload is enormous. I know that I want to perform in many situations: accompanying and chamber music as well as solo recitals. I also want to teach. Right now, I'd just like to know where I will be next year."

On the day of our interview, Flonta had just returned the day before from an audition for the Yale School of Music's graduate piano program; the next day she would head to the University of Michigan for another audition.

Her two younger brothers and younger sister followed her lead and currently study violin, bassoon, and piano.

"Neither of my parents are musicians, but my mother had musical training at a young age and wanted us to have chances that she hadn't had," she says. "The decision to study the piano was mine, though. I started at age 6 and always took the piano very seriously."

Professor of Piano Peter Takács provided the link that brought this tenacious musician to the United States and to Oberlin.

"He's always been very supportive of me," she says. "When I first played for him during his visit to Romania, he suggested that I enter the Oberlin Piano Competition." After placing very well in the competition twice, Flonta decided to audition for the Conservatory and entered as a full scholarship student in 1999.

"When I first came here, I was shocked by the facilities and the opportunities for expression that you have as a student. We could talk all day about the difference in the educational systems in the United States and Romania. In much of Europe, you need to have chosen a career by age 14."

Daniela Flonta, in typical form, caught even that deadline well ahead of schedule with a 6-year-old girl's decision that pulled her from her family living room to the concert-hall stage.

Friday's free concert at 8 p.m. in Finney Chapel will also feature works by Lutoslawski, Debussy, and Ravel.

A conversation with Daniela Flonta:

What inspired you to be a musician?
I knew from listening to the radio that I wanted to study the piano. I started when I was 6, and I think music was always a pretty serious business for me.

What keeps you inspired on discouraging days?
Sometimes I have a bad day practicing, but I know even on those days that if I didn't play the piano at all, I'd be even more depressed. It brings me down a little when I have stretches of time during which I can't play the piano.

What is the most memorable performance you have seen and why?
Well, there have been many... I saw pianist Claude Frank in a solo recital at Aspen. He played Beethoven's Op. 111, the last sonata, and showed such deep understanding of the music. That performance really spoke to me. I actually met him when I auditioned in New Haven!

If you could perform with any musician, living or dead, who would it be? What would you perform?
I'd love to meet Leon Fleischer and talk to him about Beethoven. My teacher studied with Fleischer and I've seen him in master classes. I have the three B's you know, Bach, Beethoven, and Brahms. They've all been important for me and I'd love to meet any of them.

If you could master another instrument, what would it be?
A stringed instrument or voice, in that order. Of the stringed instruments, I'd learn either the violin or the cello. My brother is a violinist and we played together many times, so I think I'd choose the violin because it was such fun to play with him.

If you could not be a musician, what other profession would you choose? What profession would you definitely NOT choose?
I'd probably teach something to children. I teach piano right now. Maybe I'd teach literature. I'm not really fond of exact sciences, but I liked literature and painting in school. I'm an organized person but I wouldn't work a desk job. It might be okay for a while, but I don't think I'd want to be an accountant for any long period of time.

What do you listen to for inspiration? In your free time?
To relax, I listen to pure quiet.
For inspiration I listen to great pianists like Radu Lupu, or Fleischer. Oh, and Richard Goode, of course! I played for him last year and I adore his playing. I don't like playing that's just virtuosic and flashy. To hold my attention, it has to be really profound as well.

What do you like to read?
Not science fiction. Sometimes I like mystery suspense novels. I liked Gone with the Wind.

What are the three words that best describe you?
Determined, energetic, passionate.