5 Questions with Javier Perianes

This weekend — Saturday, Oct. 11, and Sunday, Oct. 12 — acclaimed Spanish pianist Javier Perianes returns to perform with the San Diego Symphony in a program featuring Jimmy López’s piano concerto Ephemerae, conducted by Rafael Payare. Known for his poetic touch, expressive range and artistry that bridges centuries of repertoire, Perianes brings both passion and insight to everything he plays. Ahead of his performance, he shared his thoughts on collaborating with López, discovering new music and what inspires him beyond the concert stage.

1. This weekend you’ll perform Jimmy López’s Piano Concerto with the San Diego Symphony. You and Jimmy have worked together before — what makes this collaboration special, and what do you hope audiences will hear or feel in his music?

I’m really looking forward to playing Jimmy’s Piano Concerto with Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony. I’ve already performed the piece under Rafael with the Montreal Symphony and the Philadelphia Orchestra, and we both love it. This performance is about what the audience is willing to feel on this sensory adventure, because Jimmy presents a beautiful and spectacular palette of colors and textures inspired by scents.

2. Your repertoire ranges from beloved Spanish composers to greats like Beethoven and Chopin — and now to contemporary voices like López. How do you decide which music to bring to the stage?

When I’m playing recitals, I always try to invite the audience to experience connections between composers and ultimately, to share a kind of dramaturgic idea through the program. When I collaborate with orchestras, there are other factors to consider, such as the theme of the program or season, and the ideas of the conductor or presenter about the specific repertoire. You always need to keep many options in mind, depending on these circumstances.

3. Playing a new work by a living composer can be an entirely different experience from performing the classics. What’s it like to prepare a modern concerto, and how does it feel to bring something so fresh and current to audiences?

It’s a real pleasure and a great privilege to have the opportunity to discuss ideas directly with the composer. Having the composer involved in the process of learning a new piece is something truly unique and extraordinary. I would have loved to have had that chance with the great classics!

4. You’ve performed all over the world. What do you enjoy about collaborating with American orchestras, and what are you most looking forward to in your time with Rafael Payare and the San Diego Symphony?

I’ve had the pleasure of working with Rafael in several places — Montreal, Philadelphia, London and now a return to San Diego. Rafael Payare is a fantastic musician, a wonderful conductor, and I love his flexibility and ability to listen and react instantly to what’s happening. He has a rare quality that I deeply admire as both a musician and a person: his honesty.

As for American orchestras, I’ve had the honor of working with many of them, and the level of musicianship, precision and professionalism is extraordinary. Sometimes the first rehearsal already sounds like a potential recording.

5. When you’re not at the piano, how do you unwind or find inspiration? Are there things outside of music — art, books, travel — that help keep your creativity alive?

We travel constantly, so it’s important for me to cultivate an inner world, and books are an essential part of that. Anything we experience can be a source of inspiration, because when we share our musical emotions, it’s because we have something meaningful to share. To have something to share, we need to live and experience all kinds of situations in our lives.

See Javier Perianes perform this weekend, Saturday, Oct. 11 and Sunday, Oct. 12 at Jacobs Music Center. Tickets available here.