Few concert violinists do more preparation than French virtuoso Raphael Oleg. For him, each performance requires meticulous research on the composer and the work.
"I believe the performer is just a medium, a bridge between the composer and the listener," says Oleg in a recent interview ahead of a recital at Tokyo's Kioi Hall next month with the experienced pianist Yuki Nakajima.
"Often, the performer's ego stands in the way and tends to destroy the initial meaning of the composer. [Research for me] is like conducting a criminal investigation. I'm looking for clues everywhere."